The Kingston Board of Assessors accelerated its preparations for the upcoming town-wide revaluation Tuesday, authorizing a nearly $1 million motor vehicle tax commitment while coordinating an intensive field inspection schedule. Assessing Department Director Mari Clark reported that the office is managing a surge in demands despite staffing constraints, as the town nears a critical Department of Revenue (DOR) review scheduled for early September.

The most significant financial action of the evening was the issuance of the second motor vehicle excise commitment of 2026, totaling $980,000. This follows the issuance of over 13,000 bills earlier this year and provides a necessary revenue stream as the town navigates a tightening fiscal landscape. Upon hearing the figure, one board member jokingly referenced his own contribution to the town coffers, noting, Some new wheels? My 20-year-old pickup truck just wasn't cutting it. It's a Ford.

The board spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing the logistical hurdles of the current revaluation year. Clark noted that consultants from RSC have already begun account listings ahead of schedule, a pace that surprised the Board Chair. RSC? I have a pile this big and they haven't even come by to look at them, the Chair said. I have the DOR coming in September 8th, so I don't know how I'm going to pull this off. I'm hoping they start after Memorial Day.

To meet state-mandated certification standards, the department has deployed two field inspectors to conduct cyclical permit reviews across 54 parcels. Clark detailed the ongoing work, mentioning recent visits to Evergreen Street and plans for upcoming inspections on Main Street. It's a nice house. It's a nice week to walk down Main Street, Clark noted, adding that she would personally be starting inspections at 217 Main Street. Board member Ken highlighted a property in that area undergoing significant changes, observing that they're tearing it down... tearing down more of it and rebuilding.

In addition to field work, the board reviewed upcoming training sessions focused on affordable housing and Chapter 40B developments. Clark presented invoices for Zoom webinars featuring instructors from the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency. This training comes at a critical time for Kingston, as the town continues to grapple with high-density housing proposals like the Kushman Farms 40B application and the conversion of the Baymont Hotel. The Chair expressed interest in the sessions, though noted initial difficulty identifying the moderators for the event.

The board also reviewed Article 653, a measure slated for the upcoming Town Meeting. While the meeting was originally anticipated for early May, Clark informed the board that the exact date remains in flux. We have Town Meeting coming up. We can't do much without meeting the Select Board tomorrow for them to try to figure out the best date to have it, Clark explained, noting that the Assessing Department’s workload is currently strained with one staff member on leave.

Beyond professional services from RSC and WB Mason, the board discussed the completion of the current abatement and exemption cycle. Clark indicated that the department aims to finalize these tax adjustments soon to maintain its schedule for the May 12 meeting. Before concluding the public portion of the session, the board moved to address confidential taxpayer data.

Motion Made by the Chair to enter into executive session, not to return to open session, in order to comply with MGL Chapter 59, Section 60, to discuss exemption abatement applications. Motion Passed (2-0).