During the meeting, the board tackled the issue of parcels with owners that could not be identified despite exhaustive efforts by the assessor’s office. The motion passed will allow the city to assess these parcels for the fiscal year 2025 under general laws chapter 59 section 11. This decision stands out due to its potential implications for property revenue and the city’s approach to dealing with properties with unascertainable ownership.

Furthermore, the Board of Assessors approved a series of statutory exemptions for fiscal year 2024.

In addition to exemptions, the board also approved a substantial list of abatement applications for fiscal year 2024, affecting a wide range of properties and taxpayers. Abatements are reductions in the assessed value of property for tax purposes and can result from various factors, including overvaluation or clerical error. Conversely, the board denied several abatement applications.

The meeting also addressed personal property abatements, approving one and denying another for fiscal year 2024. Personal property tax is levied on the value of a business’s tangible assets and the board’s decisions directly influence the tax liabilities of businesses within the city.

In executive session, the board discussed abatements and exemptions per the submitted list, a standard procedure to ensure sensitive matters are handled with due diligence, particularly when public discussion could be detrimental to the city’s legal position.

The board also set the date for the next meeting.