11/21/2022 SELECT BOARD Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 Mashpee Select Board Minutes November 21, 2022 APPOINTMENTS & HEARINGS Tax, Classification Hearing: Assessor Jose h Gibbons: (continued) Discussion andMAo�roval of Fiscal Year m2023 Tax Rate Publicm, Comment: (continued) Ashumet Road resident Mary Waygan encouraged the Select Board to pass the residential exemption. This is an important tool to provide affordable living in Mashpee and to ease the housing cost burden. Rising property taxes can be a burden to those families at the low to moderate income levels and also to those on fixed incomes. Over 30% of Mashpee's housing stock is used seasonally. This causes huge pressure on the housing market. Ms. Waygan indicated the Town's Housing Production Plan states one of the barriers for living here is property taxes, and housing seasonality in Mashpee. Ms. Waygan stated the problem is not going to be solved by building or subsidizing everything that is needed. The residential exemption is a tool in the tool box, and the town should give this a try. Ms. Waygan voiced support to obtain benefit for year-round rental housing. Andrew Gottlieb 119 Pickerel Cove indicated that over the years this has been brought forward with opposition. For those trying to live on the Cape this in in their best financial interest. Other Cape towns have instituted the residential exemption without placing neighbor against neighbor. Mr. Gottlieb stated this can be done. The majority of homes would gain more than $350. Approximately 4% of homes valued over $2 million would be paying more. There are a lot of people struggling. As a solution Mr. Gottlieb recommended to transfer free cash to avoid running into a deficit in the overlay. Money collected from the taxpayer would provide the tax relief. Unused funds would revert to free cash. It was recommended the Select Board consider a 10% residential exemption as the cap. A summer resident spending more time in Mashpee working from home stated the pie will only see the same amount of pie. It was requested this burden not be passed onto the seasonal resident, but to the commercial classification. Tom Fudala spoke in support of the comments made by Mr. Gottlieb. On a fixed income Mr. Fudala indicated he can barely afford to pay his bills now. Many of his neighbors cannot afford a second home, and are in need of assistance. Mr. Fudala indicated the May Town Meeting supported the software updates, printing, mailing costs and the hiring of a consultant in preparation for the residential exemption. In his opinion this is a no brainer, something to do for all of the working people in town. Mr. Fudala suggested the Select Board look into the year-round rental concept. As a member of the Water District Mr. Fudala indicated he is going to vote in support of the residential exemption. There was a comment regarding the cost of living an issue of concern across the country. It's not because people have a second home.