Town of Franklin: Fiscal 2020 first quarter Real Estate and Personal Property

Fiscal 2020 first quarter Real Estate and Personal Property

Treasurer Collector Kerri A. Bertone has mailed the Fiscal 2020 first quarter Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills. Payment is due by 8-1-19. Payments received after that date will be charged 14% interest.

Town of Franklin: Fiscal 2020 first quarter Real Estate and Personal Property

"the declining enrollment helped us, as a community, be able to fund the services people expect”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A good economy should equal a sunny fiscal forecast. 

That’s what many residents believe, said Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, which is why a cloud of suspicion looms over the town budget’s structural deficit entering fiscal 2020. 

“A lot of people are frustrated. In such a good economy, and a great business climate, how are we in this pickle?” Hellen asked rhetorically. 

The answer includes many factors, some of which are not unique to Franklin, said Hellen. 

According to Hellen, the main culprits of the impending deficit include an increased demand for services, increased health insurance costs, charter school expansion costs, declining school enrollment, other post-employment benefits (OPEP) and the cost of doing business in town outpacing the town’s ability to raise revenue."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190509/franklin-seeks-solution-to-structural-deficit


Other budget related info

Legislative update to Town Council on May 8
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/live-reporting-legislative-update.html

State level budget info
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/it-is-statement-of-senates-priorities.html

Charter School impact on budget
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/charter-school-clarifications-on.html

Inside the proposed FY 2020 budget
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/04/inside-proposed-fy-2020-town-of.html

March 18 Finance Committee FY 2020 budget preview info (audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-finance-committee-march.html

Prop 2 1/2 override process
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/what-is-process-for-prop-2-12-ballot.html

Rising health care costs drive benefits

How much is the School budget part of the whole Town budget

What is the process for a Prop 2 1/2 ballot question?

Inquiring minds might ask "How do we avoid letting so many teachers go and raise school fees?" The town budget is balanced to meet expected revenue. The only way to increase the expected revenue is for the majority of the voters to agree to do so. 


"PLACING QUESTIONS BEFORE VOTERS
Proposition 2½ questions are placed on an election ballot by vote of the "local
appropriating body," which is defined in towns as the selectboard, not town meeting. In
towns without selectboards, a vote of the town council is required to present a question to
the electorate. In cities, a vote of the city council, with the mayor's approval where
required by law, is needed. G.L. c. 59, § 21C(a).

This is the only way an override or exclusion question may be placed on the ballot. They
may not be placed on the ballot by a town meeting vote or any local initiative procedure
authorized by law. A local initiative procedure, however, may be used as an alternative
method of placing an underride question on the ballot.

The board or council must vote the question exactly as it will appear on the ballot.


ELECTION PROCEDURE
Proposition 2½ questions may be placed on a regular or special municipal election ballot.

Questions may also be placed on the state biennial election ballot. However, those
questions must be submitted to the Secretary of State for certification by the first
Wednesday in August preceding the election. G.L. c. 59, § 21C(i).

The usual laws and procedures relating to municipal elections apply. The municipal clerk
must receive written notice of the question being placed on the ballot at least 35 days
before the date of the election. G.L. c. 54, § 42C. The vote to place a question on the
ballot must take place in sufficient time to meet this advance notice requirement.

A city or town may present Proposition 2½ questions to the voters as many times during
the year as it chooses. The only constraint on the interval between these elections is the
time needed to call and hold each election.

The Office of the Secretary of State is responsible for administering and enforcing
election laws. Specific questions about the application of these laws to Proposition 2½
elections should be directed to the Elections Division of that office at 617-727-2828."



Additional info on the process can be found in the Division of Local Services (DLS) bulletin which is part of the MA Dept of Revenue (DOR). 
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/07/31/prop2.pdf?_ga=2.5588468.630711474.1557137379-1789922467.1514424883

DOR also has a series of short videos to explain the process
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/proposition-2-12-and-tax-rate-process

What is the process for a Prop 2 1/2 ballot question?

Fiscal Year 2019 4th Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Fiscal Year 2019 4th Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills are due May 1, 2019

You can pay online at http://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/online-payments

Reminders:

• Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
• If you are mailing in your payment, please be sure to include the remittance copy with your check.
• If you choose to use your Online Banking to pay your bills, please remember to reference the bill number(s) you are paying.

Fiscal Year 2019 4th Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Board of Assessors

Interim Revaluation
The interim revaluation of all real and personal property in the Town of Franklin was completed Fall 2017 in preparation for Actual Fiscal Year 2018 3rd quarter tax bills. Following is a brief review of that achievement.

Data Collection
Sixteen years have now passed since we installed the real estate valuation and assessment administration software developed by Patriot Properties, Inc. Because our start-up data was from a different form of valuation system and most of our data had not been refreshed in nearly ten years, it was necessary to complete a town-wide data recollection program prior to finalizing the FY 2005 valuations. Patriot Properties was hired for this task. Over the past 13 years, our appraisal staff has performed the on-going property exterior measuring and interior inspecting for all real estate classes. Such reviews are done for the Department of Revenue (DOR) required cyclical program, as well as for building permitted changes, pre-appraisal and abatement verifications.

Field Review
In addition to individual property on-site review, field reviews are required periodically to check for obvious data accuracy and consistency. This driveby review provides another level of assurance that when valuation schedules are applied, the results will be “Fair and Equitable”.

Commercial/Industrial/Apartment Valuations
Annually there are analyses of sales data as well as income & expense market data. The Board contracted Patriot to work with our Director to establish an income approach to value for each property. All requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue were met through final approval of the FY 2018 valuations.

Sales Analysis
The majority of the sales analysis was completed by September 2017, and the interpretation of sales continued through the next two stages of valuation. The town-wide program resulted in a valuation system that was applied uniformly throughout the town, while reflecting all the adjustments warranted individually and by neighborhood, to result in “Full and Fair Cash Values” as per Massachusetts General Law.

Value Generation
A system of valuation was established based on valid property sales and where applicable the income approach to value. These schedules concluded from the market were then uniformly applied to all taxable and exempt real property.

Final Value Review
Final reviews were completed in preparation for the DOR review. These include studies of various computer-generated reports to check for value consistency, final field checks required, and for DOR documentation and its analyses.

DOR Review & Final Approval
Any on-site and statistical reviews by the DOR took place from April to September 2017. The appraisal staff provided files, generated property records, answered questions and addressed any concerns. At the conclusion of the DOR review, we were granted approval authorizing public disclosure.

Public Disclosure
The DOR approved valuations were available for disclosure to the property owners. While the administrative staff provided property record cards and general data reviews, the appraisers conducted informal hearings on valuations.

Personal Property
Business assets and those of utilities are reviewed for valuation as taxable Personal Property. For seventeen fiscal years we have engaged the specialized services of Real Estate Research Consultants (RRC) in the discovery and valuation of these accounts. These services have served us well, resulting in DOR approval and consistently defendable valuations. Also, considerable new growth has been certified annually. Additionally, the RRC Personal Property Software installed in our office has benefited us. The personal property valuation formulas are very straightforward, and the administrative capabilities have met our needs.

Classification Hearing & Tax Commitment
Following some discussion and a few presentations relative to single versus split tax rates, the Council approved a single tax rate at $14.65 per $1,000 of taxable value as calculated by the Board for all property classes. The tax commitment and mailing were timely for an actual 3rd quarter tax bill.

Abatement Reviews
Upon mailing of the tax bills and on or before the due date of the first actual bill, property owners have an opportunity to file an Abatement Application on the basis of overvaluation or misclassification. 61 abatements applications were filed of 11,524 taxable accounts, or just under 6/10ths of 1%. Generally those with merit were resolved through our conducting a complete on-site exterior measuring and interior inspection. Usually a valuation discrepancy is the result of a data error or as a result of an inspection appointment not being arranged and thus the property data having been “estimated”.

Technology Improvements
In addition to our state-of-the-art software for the valuation and administration of both real and personal property, Cartographic Associates, now CAI Technologies of Littleton, NH has continued to maintain the digital/GIS-mapping program it first completed for us for FY 2005. Following aerial photography and planimetric (physical features) mapping, CAI constructed cadastral tax maps (depicting parcels) through the use of over 5,000 plans and over 15,000 deeds. These new maps are continuously in our process of reconciliation with our property records for consistency in both parcel inventory and land area. With the support of Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and the Town Council, we have capacity in our Patriot software to link and utilize the maps with our assessment data file. In addition, for the past thirteen years we have provided our tax maps on the web for the benefit of both the Town staff and the general public.

Appraisal & Administrative Staffing
The use of automation has minimized the former heavy burden of traditional data processing. Due to this and numerous other office improvements, the Town approved our Staff Restructuring Plan. We have adjusted our administrative support staff to Board Secretary Anne Covell who is responsible for continuing to improve our service to the public at the counter and by phone. She focuses her efforts on providing and reviewing public records, Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Commitments and Abatements, Exemption Applications, the general and specific support to the Appraisal Staff and any other assignments as required. She continues to train in various administrative duties and computer applications. We thank Anne for her diligence in 38 years of service to the Board. The Appraisers have made special efforts in the development and implementation of usable written instructions for the assessing office procedures and for MUNIS financial software applications. These instructions were developed consistent with all Mass. General Law and DOR requirements.

Appraisers
We thank Kevin W. Doyle, Director of Assessing for his diligence especially as Director beginning following his first two years here. He has overseen the completion of all our work these past seventeen fiscal years, six full revaluations and eleven interim years of market adjustments. We also acknowledge the support work of Appraiser David Ruberti since July 2005 and of Appraiser Peter Mooney since August 2004. Our Director received his Massachusetts Accredited Assessor (MAA) in 1990 and the MAAO Wilson Award in June 2013. Within the past eleven years both Appraisers completed their designation required education and experience, being granted their MAA designations and maintaining the periodic recertification required.

Town Revenue Enhancements
In addition to meeting all state requirements as well as daily office oversight, the Director and Appraisers have achieved many additional improvements to benefit the Town taxpayers. One such is the efficiencies built into the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Commitment and Abatement processes in conjunction with the new MUNIS tax software installation. These excise taxes represent about 5 million dollars in locally raised annual revenue, or about 6.3% of locally raised tax revenue. We assure the citizens that like real and personal property, taxes on these are assessed and abated appropriately and uniformly for the maximum benefit of all. Registry of Motor Vehicles’ automation aided the Director and Appraisers to further enhance revenue in assessing dealer and repair plate registrations. As well, with the automation improvements of the Environmental Police, this professional staff successfully developed a new annual revenue stream in the identification and assessment of excise taxes on boats principally situated in the Town of Franklin.

On-site Periodic Property Reviews
Because we have initiated the cyclical property remeasurement and re-inspection program acceptable to the Massachusetts DOR, we continue to make various public information efforts to assure property owners have advance information about this on-going program. Briefly, please note that the purpose of these property visits is to verify that the correct data is being used in the determination of valuations to achieve “full and fair cash value” in accordance with Mass. General Law Chapter 59. The Board appreciates the general public’s cooperation in its efforts to serve all property owners of all property types to assure fair and uniform values.

Your Elected Board of Assessors
Before entering the performance of his/her duties, each Assessor upon election has taken the oath of office specific to assessors. Massachusetts General Law has provided that because the DOR Commissioner of Revenue has regulatory oversight of assessing in every city and town, the Commissioner likewise determines the training requirements for the assessors and any assistants. At this time, the Commissioner has determined Course 101, including the Classification Training Workshop, meets the minimum requirements. All three assessors have completed these and have been certified as such by the Commissioner of Revenue. The Board looks forward to continuing education opportunities offered by the MA DOR and the professional associations, the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO) and the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). The assessors have attended seminars and workshops to broaden and reinforce their understanding of property tax law.

In particular, the Board has focused on current and possible future tax relief and deferral options for Franklin’s elder citizens. To that goal following meetings of the Town Senior Outreach Committee, last fall the Board, its Staff and the Office of the Council on Aging continued a broad-based effort to reach seniors. This resulted in successfully providing tax relief (exemption) information to additional seniors who owned and occupied their homes. Also, with the valued assistance of Veterans’ Agent Dale Kurtz, special efforts were made to identify veterans and their surviving spouses entitled to state exemptions, much of it reimbursable to the Town. We look forward to continuing to work with him in supporting our veterans.

All these efforts are consistent with the Board of Assessors commitment to meet its challenges as key Town Financial Team members to the benefit of all the citizens of the Town of Franklin. The Assessing Department is now officially a part of the Franklin Finance Division headed by newly hired Finance Director Christopher Sandini who also serves as Comptroller, replacing Susan Gagner who we wish well in her retirement. Also retiring was Treasurer-Collector Jim Dacey with whom we worked cooperatively over these past 2 decades and we wish him well in his retirement. We welcome Kerri Bertone as the new Treasurer-Collector and look forward to cooperative and productive work with Kerri into Franklin’s future.

As we write, the Board of Assessors and its Staff are preparing to finalize the Real and Personal Property Appraisal files for the Fiscal Year 2019 Interim Year Update subject to DOR review and Final Approval.

Respectfully submitted,
W. Ken Norman, Chairman of the Board
Christopher K. Feeley, Assessor, Clerk
Donna Greenwood, Assessor, Member

Franklin Board of Assessors


You can read the full Annual Report for 2018 online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_town_report.pdf

The archive of prior year annual reports
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports

Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Board of Assessors

Fiscal Year 2019 Third Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Fiscal Year 2019 Third Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills are due February 1, 2019

You can pay online at http://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/online-payments

Reminders:

• Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.
• If you are mailing in your payment, please be sure to include the remittance copy with your check.
• If you choose to use your Online Banking to pay your bills, please remember to reference the bill number(s) you are paying.

Shared from
https://www.franklinma.gov/treasurer-collector/news/fiscal-year-2019%C2%A0third-quarter-real-estate-and-personal-property-tax-bills

Fiscal Year 2019 Third Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Good news, bad news: income tax break means less for State

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"While there’s growing talk of a possible recession, Massachusetts workers are about to receive a $175 million income tax break and there’s now a possibility that the 5 percent income tax rate that voters approved in 2000 will actually happen in 2020. 

As the weekend got underway Friday, the Baker administration quietly announced that all of the necessary economic triggers had been hit and the income tax will fall from 5.1 percent to 5.05 percent on Jan. 1, 2019. 

In August, Revenue Commissioner Christopher Harding certified that fiscal 2018 revenues had easily outpaced the state’s 2.5 percent trigger, and tax revenue growth in four consecutive three-month periods, the most recent one ending this month, was positive enough to force the rate reduction. 

The tax relief means $84 million less for the state budget over the last half of fiscal 2019, and its impact over a full fiscal year is $175 million."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181217/income-tax-cut-set-to-start-on-jan-1-worth-175-million-to-massachusetts-workers

The Mass Municipal Association reported on the "consensus" revenue hearing held Dec 5. The outlook for revenue growth slows in the coming fiscal years.
https://www.mma.org/state-budget-officials-hear-cautious-revenue-forecasts-for-fy20/

In recognition of the slowing revenue growth and need to increased revenues to continue to provide services to the communities, the MMA drafted a resolution to explore other revenue options. The school funding process is broken and the burden of funding all local government with property tax revenues needs to be looked at.

The second resolution starts work on exploring options for recycling. Recycling market has declined with the decrease in ability of China in particular to take what is available.

"At the MMA’s Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 19, members will consider a resolution on the state-local fiscal partnership and one on partnering with the state and federal government to mitigate the impacts of disruption in the recycling marketplace. (See full text of each resolution below.) 

Each resolution was drafted by an MMA policy committee during the fall and approved by the MMA Board of Directors on Nov. 13. 

The proposed resolutions are as follows:

• Resolution Supporting an Enduring Fiscal Partnership Between Cities and Towns and State Government in Fiscal 2020 and Beyond, proposed by the MMA Fiscal Policy Committee 

• Resolution Supporting a Local-State-Federal Partnership to Address the Challenges to the Recycling Marketplace, proposed by the MMA Policy Committee on Energy and the Environment"

Continue reading the article and find the full text of each proposed resolution
https://www.mma.org/mma-to-present-2-resolutions-for-business-meeting/

Mass Municipal Association

FY19 Second Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills have been mailed.

Treasurer Collector Kerri Bertone has mailed the Fiscal 2019 second quarter real estate and personal property tax bills.  

Payment is due by 11-1-18.  

Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.

FY19 Second Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 29, 2017

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, 2017

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF (83 pages)

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/november_29_agenda_0.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes - October 11, 2017, October 25, 2017
B. Announcements	B. Announcements - This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments.  The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
E. Appointments	E. Appointments - Cultural District Committee
F. Hearings	F. Hearings - Public Hearing - 7:10 pm 1. Tax Classification Hearing
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions
H. Presentations/Discussions	H. Presentations/Discussions - Snow and Ice Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi
I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 17-70: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Factor 2. Resolution 17-71: Classification Tax Allocation - Open Space Exemption 3. Resolution 17-72: Classification Tax Allocation - Small Business Exemption 4. Resolution 17-73: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Property Exemption
K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn

You can also find the Franklin Council District appointment information here
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1K4qNSFXA1TrRiKDnVJkkPc0O4dmP5ewQ


The DPW update on snow and ice in advance of the winter season:

Franklin (MA) DPW Snow/Ice Presentation - 2017 from Franklin Matters

How much snow will we get this winter is an open question? How well prepared are we to deal with is will be answered at the Town Council meeting Wednesday, Nov 29

3Q tax bills mailed - Due Feb 1, 2017

3rd Quarter Real Estate and Personal Property Bills will be mailed out on Friday, December 30th. The due date for these bill is February 1, 2017.

You can pay online at http://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/online-payments.

If you are mailing in your payment, please be sure to include the remittance copy with your check.

expanded parking lot at the Senior Center

New Mailing Address for Tax Payments

The Town of Franklin has switched their payment processing provider and has a new mailing address to send all tax payments.


PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE REMITTANCE ADDRESS HAS BEEN CHANGED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2016

TO: 

TOWN OF FRANKLIN 

P.O. BOX 986 

MEDFORD, MA 02155-0010

PAYMENTS MAY NOT BE RECEIVED WITH THE OLD ADDRESS AND RETURNED TO YOU BY THE POST OFFICE.


MAKE ANY CHANGES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR YOUR ON-LINE BANKING PAYMENTS





this was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0243DC3C-000F8513

Town of Franklin, Municipal Building, 355 East Central St

In the News: HMEA incredABLE day - MAy 22, Barbara Anderson passes on, Pirelli Arena skating schedule for April

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

HMEA Inc., a nonprofit organization that serves children and adults with special needs, will hold its family event and fundraiser of the year, the incredABLE Walk, Run and All-Day Family Fun, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 22 at EMC2 Headquarters, 50 Constitution Blvd. 

The day will include a 5K walk, a kids’ fun run and a 5K run. Music, food and activities for families will await at the finish line. The event will be hosted by Gene Lavanchy from Fox 25 News and Steve Nelson, a New England Patriots linebacker. 

For information: hmea.org/incredable.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160409/hmea-to-hold-incredable-day-events

Barbara C. Anderson, a champion of Proposition 2½ tax limits, died Friday after battling leukemia for several months. 

Her death was announced by Citizens for Limited Taxation. 

Anderson was one of the leaders of the campaign for property tax relief. She also led campaigns for the repeal of state income tax surtax, defeat of the graduated income tax ballot question and the rollback of the “temporary” state income tax increase.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160409/tax-fighter-barbara-anderson-dies

Pirelli Veteran’s Arena, 910 Panther Way, will be open for public skating at the following times during April vacation.

• April 16: from 2:30 to 4:20 p.m.
• April 17: from 2 to 3:50 p.m.
• April 18-21: from 12:30 to 2:20 p.m.
• April 22: from 12:30 to 2:20 p.m.; 8 to 9:50 p.m.
• April 23: from 2:30 to 4:20 p.m.
• April 24: from 2 to 3:40 p.m.

Admission costs $5, and rental skates are available for $5 on a first-come, first-served basis. For a list of all the updated daily public skating locations and times, visit fmcicesports.com/public-skating.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160409/pirelli-veterans-arena-lists-april-vacation-public-skating-times

In the News: Tri-County cut-a-thon, tax bills mailed

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The Tri-County Regional cosmetology program will host a Cut-A-Thon and Style-A-Thon from 2:10 to 7 p.m. April 8 in the high school’s salon, 147 Pond St., to raise funds for a Franklin runner who is participating in the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge 2016. 

For a $10 donation, adults can receive a haircut from the high school and post-secondary students. Students can participate for $5. Those who do not wish to have their hair cut can have it washed, blow-dried and styled for the same price."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160401/tri-county-cosmetology-program-to-hold-cut-a-thon

"The town of Franklin has mailed out the fourth quarter fiscal 2016 real estate and personal property tax bills, which are due May 2. 

Payments are considered made once received, and payments received after the deadline will be charged a 14 percent interest. 

The fourth quarter tax bills are based on the new valuations and tax rate of $14.40. The first two quarterly tax bills are preliminary or estimated bills. The third and fourth quarterly bills are actual bills and will be adjusted by the amounts estimated for the first two quarters."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160401/franklin-mails-out-real-estate-personal-property-tax-bills

Massachusetts Tax Amnesty Starts April 1st

It's Time to Catch Up On Back Taxes

MA TAX AMNESTY 2016 will be open to all individuals and businesses to catch up on back taxes and save on penalties. This program will allow you to:

• File delinquent returns or amend prior tax filings.
• Pay only the tax and interest you owe. Tax penalties and any interest due on those penalties will be waived.
• Benefit from a three-year limited lookback period on unfiled returns.

Massachusetts Tax Amnesty Starts April 1st

Visit the Tax Amnesty site for additional info  
http://www.mass.gov/dor/breaking-news/amnesty/tax-amnesty-info.html

In the News: tax bills rise, Exelon questions Franklin, Vallee elected vice-chair

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Property tax bills for the average homeowner would rise $118 after the Town Council set the rate at its set Dec. 8 session. 

The council set the fiscal 2016 tax rate at $14.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The rate actually dropped from fiscal 2015's $14.84, but property values have increased, meaning most bills will increase.

Continue reading the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151215/NEWS/151217375/1994/NEWS

Exelon is questioning Franklin’s motive in filing to intervene in the permitting process of the company’s proposed power plant expansion, arguing that the town is driven by the possibility of a large settlement rather than environmental concerns. 

In a legal brief filed with the state Energy Facilities Siting Board late Monday, Exelon, in response to Franklin filing a petition to intervene, called attention to an Oct. 7 meeting of the Franklin Town Council, at which members briefly discussed the plant.

Continue reading the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151215/NEWS/151217348/1994/NEWS

The Town Council elected Robert Vallee as its new vice-chairman last week, after a recount delayed its reorganization by nearly a month. 

Vallee, who had previously served as chairman, was named to the vice-chairmanship on a 5-4 vote.

Continue reading the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151215/NEWS/151217346/1994/NEWS

"Franklin offers an enviable combination of low property taxes and a top performing high school"

Realtor Warren Reynolds writes:

The Boston Globe provided a lot of data on suburban property tax burdens in Greater Boston in a recent article on how home buyers look at property taxes, public school rankings and quality of life issues when choosing where to live in suburban Massachusetts. 

Curiously, the article fails to highlight the Town of Franklin when it reviews communities in the suburbs popular with buyers for offering low taxes, good schools and a great quality of life.  But in data buried at the bottom of the article, you can find that Franklin’s average real estate tax burden is gratifyingly low.  Property taxes are a lot lower in Franklin than in most other communities in the I-495 region!

Real estate tax burden and high school test scores by MA community

Warren continues to write his detailed analysis:

Where the Globe went astray in skipping over Franklin in the article was in failing to recognize that Franklin High School recently posted stellar scores in the annual performance tests mandated for all Massachusetts high schools by the Commonwealth.  The chart at the top of this post is my attempt to set the record straight: when you compare suburban towns by both average property tax burdens and high school test scores, you see that Franklin offers an enviable combination of low property taxes and a top performing high school.  Franklin High’s test scores edge out high schools in such prestige towns as Sudbury, Concord, Carlisle and Lincoln, while the average property tax in those towns is more than double what you pay in Franklin! 

If you live in Franklin, MA, you get superior schools and low property taxes along with an award-winning community (including Safest City in the US), lots ofgreen space for recreation and a commute that is made all the easier by the town’s TWO commuter rail stations and TWO interchanges on I-495.  In terms of taxes, schools and quality of life, it’s a dream setup for home buyers!

Continue reading the article on Warren's 02038.com page. He has more charts and good info touting Franklin!  http://www.02038.com/2015/02/franklin-low-taxes-top-high-school/