Merrimac Board of Assessors signs abatements and tax liens, schedules tentative Nov. 19 classification hearing

MERRIMAC, Mass. — The Merrimac Board of Assessors met Nov. 3, 2025, approved several routine tax-administration items and began preparations for the FY26 tax rate and bill production.

The board approved and signed motor-vehicle excise abatement applications, applications under Chapter 61, 61A and 61B, and a set of Chapter tax liens. The minutes note the liens were notarized by Edward Davis and that Heather Roche will file them at the Registry of Deeds in Beverly.

Board members also approved and signed assessment changes recorded in the meeting minutes. The record does not list individual vote tallies or dollar amounts for the abatements, exemptions or assessment changes.

Heather Roche reported she has begun work on the FY26 tax rate. The board tentatively scheduled a Classification Hearing with the Select Board and the Board of Assessors for Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., pending New Growth approval from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

Roche also outlined steps to prepare for the actual tax bills that will be issued Jan. 1, 2026: she will enter exemptions and liens into the office’s Assesspro records, reconcile reports, and then work with Vadar support on a data migration to the Vadar billing system.

On budget timing, Roche said she will enter the Board of Assessors’ FY26 budget into Vadar by the end of December and that the board will meet the Finance Committee in January 2026 to review budget items.

The meeting moved into executive session under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 30A, section 21, to review FY2026 real-estate exemption applications; the minutes state those applications were reviewed and signed in executive session and that the meeting did not reconvene in public session.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Merrimac Town Hall.