Live reporting: Tax Classification Hearing

6. HEARINGS
Franklin Tax Classification Hearing
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/12-4-19_memo_tax_rate_hearing.pdf


Chris Sandini, Kevin Doyle, Chris Feeley

factor of 1 = uniform rate across the property classes

no land classified as open space per State Land use 

calculated increase of approx $178 for avg residence with reduction in rate of 15 cents from prior year

new growth of $127M for this tax year
almost 2.5% growth (which helps establish the tax base)

Chandler - clarification questions on exemptions and forms
to be found on the Board of Assessors page
https://www.franklinma.gov/board-assessors

Jones - impressed with the 5B valuation of the Town
For the single tax rate

Bissanti - I don't remember addressing a dual tax rate
C Feeley - about 14 years ago there was a Councilor who did propose a dual tax rate; it was not passed

Pellegri - do we know if we have everyone who would be eligible?
Doyle - we did a mailing some years ago, that didn't urn up much; we work closely with the Senior Center and Veterans Agent to ensure we cover all we hear of; we work with Karen Alves to prepare a summary flyer

Hellen - we'll coordinate an update and social media blast to make sure folks are aware of it

Dellorco - once applied do they need to re-apply?
Feeley - re-apply yes, but once they have, we notify them of what they need to do

Mercer - I support the single tax rate, one of our strengths in attracting business

hearing closed

moving to first of the four resolutions


10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-80: Tax Classification Residential Factor (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-80 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-81: Tax Classification - Open Space Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-81 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-82: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-82 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-83: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-83 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

( 2 min recess )
short break to allow for signature of the docs as approved

MassBudget: Statement on Proposed Gas Tax Increase

October 30, 2019 Statement on Proposed Gas Tax Increase  Statement by Marie-Frances Rivera, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center President, in response to discussions on increasing the gas tax:  With congested highways, antiquated public transit, and limited transit options outside of Greater Boston, the Legislature and business community are debating the merits of increasing the gas tax to modernize our state's transportation system. It is critically important to understand that not only would this increase hit low and middle income communities the hardest but it would draw on a source of transportation revenue that will likely decline over the long term. Our report, 14 Options for Raising Progressive Revenue, outlines a variety of fair and sustainable ways we can raise revenue, including raising corporate taxes. These options ask those who are benefiting most from economic growth to contribute a little more to help bring our transportation system into the 21st century. If policymakers decide to raise the gas tax, increasing and expanding worker tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, can create a financial buffer for some who would be hardest hit by a gas tax increase. Interested in learning more about the pros and cons of higher gas taxes? Read our latest report here. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 1 STATE STREET, SUITE 1250 BOSTON, MA 02109

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 1 State Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02109 Sent by rwilliams@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

Board of Assessors: Agenda - Oct 3, 2019

Franklin Board Of Assessors 

meeting at 

Franklin Municipal Building, Room 106, 

355 East Central Street, Franklin, Massachusetts 

Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 9:00 AM

A. Approval Of Minutes: 
Regular & Executive Session Minutes of September 19, 2019

B. Administration, Old Business and New Business 
1. Report on FY 2020 tax file preparation, FY 2021 Chapterlands filings

C. Motor Vehicle Excise 
1. MV Abatement Denials
2. September 2019 MV List of Abatements for Comptroller

D. Personal Property 
1. Utility Valuation vs. Net Book Value

E. Boat Excise 

F. Real Estate 
1. Abatements and Appeals
2. Exemptions

G. Executive Session 

1.The Board may vote to go into Executive Session under Purpose 7 to discuss and vote on matters that are confidential in accordance with law, such as, but not limited to abatements and exemptions (MGL Ch. 59, Sec. 60), or property income & expense disclosures (MGL Ch. 59, Sec 52B). Will the Board return to Open Session?

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/agenda_10-03-2019.pdf

Board of Assessors: Agenda - Oct 3, 2019

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Assessors do?

While the Town Council votes to set the tax rate annually, the calculations on what the tax rate should be are based upon the valuations of all the commercial, industrial, residential, and personal property that Franklin has record of. These calculations are performed by the Assessors under the oversight of the elected Board of Assessors.

The state has changed the requirement for a property revaluation from every three years to every five years.

There are three members of the Board. Two positions are up for election this year. All three positions are four year terms of office and staggered to avoid a complete replacement and loss of institutional knowledge.

From the Town of Franklin Board of Assessors page
http://www.franklinma.gov/board-assessors

Mission
Establish and maintain valuations for all real and personal property within the community for purposes of generating tax revenues.

Services and Programs
Valuation, classification and assessment of all real and personal property for tax purposes. Conduct research of real estate market (including sales and ratio studies); prepare sales and other reports for state review and certification of values. Prepares and certifies abutters lists. Processes abatements, liens, and apportionment. Maintains assessors' maps, plans, property transfer records, and valuation data. Processes all real and personal property abatements and exemptions. Processes and abates motor vehicle excise. Prepares data for state approval of tax rate.

Inquiries regarding the valuation of residential property, industrial and commercial valuations, or questions about personal property valuations should be directed to Kevin W. Doyle, Peter Mooney or David Ruberti.

Questions regarding abatement and exemption applications, abutters lists, motor vehicle excise, ownership of real and personal property and general assessment data should be directed to the clerical support staff.

The Board of Assessors section in Franklin Annual Report for 2018 can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/02/franklin-annual-report-2018-board-of.html

Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Assessors do?

  

MassBudget: Why Top-Income Households Receive Most Tax Benefits from Charitable Deduction

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. February 11, 2019 Why Top-Income Households Receive Most Tax Benefits from Charitable Deduction BOSTON - Our Commonwealth does best when all people experience rising prosperity. But for several decades, the wealth and income of the top 1 percent of households has grown briskly while others have been left behind. While there are many reasons for this trend, one contributing factor is the way the federal tax deduction for charitable giving disproportionately rewards the giving of those with incomes over $1 million compared with donations made by moderate- and low-income tax filers. While higher-income households have more money to give away - and therefore give larger dollar amounts to charity than households with less income - the benefits of charitable tax deductions remain heavily skewed towards top-income households, according to a new Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) report. The top incomes average 160 times more than those earning incomes below $50,000, but their average charitable deduction is about 1,320 times larger. "In Massachusetts, taxpayers who have incomes over $1 million claim almost half of all charitable deductions, though they make up less than 0.5 percent of tax filers. Meanwhile, tax filers with incomes of $200,000 or less claim only 29 percent of charitable tax deductions," said Phineas Baxandall, Senior Policy Analyst at MassBudget and author of the report. Research shows high-income households do not necessarily give a larger portion of their incomes to charity than lower-income households. Some studies find that, in fact, low- and middle-income givers actually contribute a larger percentage of their incomes. A key reason the tax benefits for charitable giving are skewed toward high-income households is: charitable giving can only be deducted from federal taxes if they are itemized (listed in detail).  Most low- and moderate-income taxpayers don't tend to itemize their deductions, instead they usually opt for the larger (and simpler) standard deduction. For most top-income households, the standard deduction is too small compared to the deductions they can claim, so the vast majority choose to itemize deductions and avoid taxation on a larger portion of their incomes. Massachusetts does not currently have a charitable deduction for state income taxes but, if the state's income tax rate drops to 5.0 percent in January 2020 - as anticipated by the Department of Revenue and following policy triggers enacted in 2002 - then a state charitable deduction would kick in the following year.  Adding a state charitable deduction would reduce revenues by about $300 million per year, leaving less money for education, public health, transportation, affordable housing, and other programs funded by the state budget. "In Massachusetts' upside-down tax system, people with lower incomes pay a larger percentage of their incomes in taxes than top-income households. Adding a state charitable deduction on top of the federal one would make this system even more imbalanced," said Marie-Frances Rivera, Interim President of MassBudget. Read the full report here http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Why-Highest-Incomes-in-Massachusetts-Receive-Most-Tax-Benefits-from-Charitable-Deduction.html. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Live reporting: Tax classification hearing

5. APPOINTMENTS	None
6. HEARINGS	None

Chris Feeley, chair of Board of Assessors
Kevin Doyle, Assessor; Chris Sandini, Comptroller

80.31 %   19.68%

motion to close hearing, seconded, passed 9-0

motion to move tax motions to now, rather than wait until later, seconded, passed 9-0

10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-66: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Factor (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-66 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-67: Classification Tax Allocation- Open Space Exemption (Motion To Approve Resolution 18-67- Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-68: Classification Tax Allocation- Small Business Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-68 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-69: Classification Tax Allocation- Residential Property Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-69 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

What drives the tax rate? How stable is our budgeting process?

The tax rate will be voted on during Wednesday's Town Council meeting. It is expected to be set at 14.66/thousand, an increase of .01 over the tax rate for FY 2018 (14.65).

The tax rate increase is minor due to the increase in our overall property valuation and new growth. A larger pie is available to divide the levy by. When valuations go up, the rate flattens. It can also go down as shown in the 2000-2007 years. We are still in the recovery phase from the great recession that started in 2008.

Franklin, MA - Net Change in Valuation (Million) vs. Tax Rate (Percent)

How stable is our budgeting process can be shown in the slight variation of our free cash as a percent of total budget. Free cash is neither free nor cash. It arises from two budget factors: (1) when revenues to the town exceed that forecast and (2) when expenses budgeted are less than forecast. Both of these amounts add up to what is called 'free cash'.

Certified Free Cash as Percent of Franklin, MA Budget

Both charts were created from Town of Franklin Board of Assessors data combined with MA Dept of Revenue, Division of Local Services data. The Division of Local Services has a variety of data and reporting available 
https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Dashboard.Cat1munioperatingpos

The Town Council agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/november-28-town-council-agenda

Specifically the tax rate info can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/town_council_meeting_agenda_for_november_28_2018.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Meeting - Nov 28, 2018

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 28, 2018. This meeting sets the tax rate for the fiscal year 2019, effectively completing the budget cycle that started a year ago and officially funds the Town's operation for July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. 

(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

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/town_council_meeting_agenda_for_november_28_2018.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
Town Council Meeting Agenda	Meeting of November 28, 2018 - 7:00PM
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS	a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
2. CITIZENS COMMENTS	a. 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.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES	None
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS	a. Swearing in of Firefighters
5. APPOINTMENTS	None
6. HEARINGS
6a. HEARINGS	Tax Classification Hearing
6b. HEARINGS	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-821: Zoning Map Changes On Or Near Plain Street, Pond Street, and Palomino Drive
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS	None
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS	a. Snow Update
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS	a. Capital Budget Subcommittee b. Budget Subcommittee c. Economic Development Subcommittee d. Town Administrator Search Committee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-65: Conditional Offer of Town Administartor Position to Current Deputy Town Administartor (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-65- Majority Vote (5))
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-66: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Factor (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-66 - Majority Vote (5))
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-67: Classification Tax Allocation- Open Space Exemption (Motion To Approve Resolution 18-67- Majority Vote (5))
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-68: Classification Tax Allocation- Small Business Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-68 - Majority Vote (5))
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-69: Classification Tax Allocation- Residential Property Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-69 - Majority Vote (5))
10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-821: Zoning Map Changes On Or Near Plain Street, Pond Street, and Palomino Drive - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-821 to a 2nd Reading-Majority Vote (5))
10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822: Changes to §185-20. Signs - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-822 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote (5))
10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823: Changes To Sign District Regulations - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-823 to the Planning Board- Majority Vote (5))
10i. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824: Changes to Sign District Overlay Map- Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-824 to the Planning Board- Majority Vote (5))
10j. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Bylaw Amendment 18-825: Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beveralges- 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-825 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5))
10k. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Bylaw Amendment 18-828: Fees Bylaw Changes- 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-828 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION	None Scheduled
15. ADJOURN

Municipal Building, 355 East Central St, Franklin, MA