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Oak Bluffs finance panel presents voluntary PILOT policy; assessor flags legal limits
Summary
Finance Committee Chair Bob Malecki presented a draft voluntary PILOT policy on June 23 proposing a five-year phase-in; Principal Assessor Dawn Barnes cautioned about statutory limits and noted some entities (e.g., the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank) are exempt by special act.
The Oak Bluffs Select Board heard a presentation June 23 from Finance Committee Chair Bob Malecki on a proposed voluntary PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) policy that would phase contributions in over five years and be offered on a voluntary basis to qualifying organizations.
Principal Assessor Dawn Barnes told the board that state law constrains which entities the town may tax, referencing Chapter 59, Section 2 of the Massachusetts General Laws and noting that some organizations—such as the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank—were created by special legislation that may exempt them from PILOT obligations. Members noted that West Tisbury adopted a PILOT program in 2025 and that Edgartown has negotiated PILOTs in connection with recent projects.
The board thanked the Finance Committee for its work and asked Acting Town Administrator Brough and staff to collaborate with the finance team and Town Counsel to refine implementation details before bringing the draft policy back for further consideration.
