11/21/2022 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 Mashpee Select Board Minutes November 21, 2022 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Tax Classification Hearin ,:wwAssessormJose )h.Gibbons (continued) mmm DiscussionWand Ap;proyalmof Fiscal 2023 Tax Rate: The workload was considered as well as the mandate to review applications every 5 years. With 1-200 applications in que, and with approval, there may be an influx of additional applications. Mr. Gibbons indicated of the 351 Massachusetts communities, 16 administer this program. Documents necessary to apply for a residential exemption include the front page of a federal income tax return, and a driver's license. Only one properly can be filed for an exemption. The information contained in the documents verifies a persons legal address. At times the information needs to be fully vetted with multiple property owners. As discussion continued there is deep concern with respect to year-round renters and preserving this housing market. Year-round renters would include those living in mobile home parks. Due to market conditions many year-round homes are being sold or being rented on a short-term basis. It was agreed that information would be obtained to further review the impacts of the residential exemption if imposed. A list of year-round rentals and short-term rentals would be further reviewed. The exemption would go to the landlord, not the tenant. This may be an incentive for a property owner to rent on a year-round basis. For comparison it was noted the Town of Provincetown expanded their residential exemption to domiciliary parcels. Provincetown has applied for a HOME Rule Petition which is currently under review for an expanded residential exemption to include qualified year-round rentals. With a 25% exemption, their total participation is approximately 1,600. The Town of Barnstable adopted a 20% residential exemption. The program has been viable since 2006, however it is a daily function to adhere to with full-time support staff required. There have been issues with re -vetting as well. The Select Board opened the hearing to solicit public comment. Donna Fuller a Mashpee Neck Road resident since 1972 urged the Select Board to vote against the residential exemption. Ms. Fuller stated that it is unfair to summer residents to be taxed without really having any say. Summer visitors give little impact to our services. With an irrevocable trust, Ms. Fuller stated she may not qualify and the proposal could possibly increase taxes substantially. With regards to obtaining a list of year-round and short-term rentals, Elana Doyle indicated the Town collects taxes on short-term rentals, and a list of the rentals should be available for review.