From DLS...Thirteen Communities Sign Up for TAP

Thirteen Communities Sign Up for TAP

I am pleased to announce that 13 communities reflecting the diversity of city and towns in Massachusetts have enlisted in our new pilot, the Taxpayer Assistance Project (TAP). These communities will "tap into" DLS experience and expertise to efficiently and successfully set a timely tax rate in November.

The communities include the cities of Revere, Worcester and Chelsea, as well as towns that range the length of Massachusetts from Egremont, Becket, Heath and Royalston in the west to Pepperell, Tewksbury, East Bridgewater and Hanover to the coastal communities of Newburyport on the north shore and Dartmouth in southeastern Massachusetts.

Four of the communities - Revere, Heath, Pepperell and Hanover - are conducting their triennial property revaluation; the remainder of the communities is in an interim cert year.

All of these communities volunteered. Some see TAP as a way to enhance and increase communication between their assessing and finance teams and the Division of Local Services. Others welcome the opportunity to move out of the December rush to approve tax rates.

We are now in the process of scheduling kick off meetings in each of the communities. In every community, the Bureau of Accounts and Bureau of Local Assessment field advisors will visit local officials in their town halls to review and discuss the schedules each community has proposed to reach the goal of a tax rate set in November. If you haven't heard from us yet on scheduling this meeting, rest assured you will have by the end of next week.

We have developed a tracking system that will monitor the progress of TAP communities as they move through the checkpoints and approvals on the road to setting a tax rate. This tracking system is designed to prevent TAP communities from "falling between the cracks" in what is always a busy and hectic fall during tax rate setting season.

By signing onto TAP, these communities have joined our efforts to change "business as usual" in the tax rate setting process. I greatly appreciate their participation as it is not always an easy decision to try something new. I believe that working together we can make this program a success.

Robert G. Nunes

Deputy Commissioner and Director of Municipal Affairs

nunesr@dor.state.ma.us