Stoneham Board Sets Maximum Commercial Tax Shift, Declines Small Business Exemption

STONEHAM — November 18, 2025 — Stoneham Select Board unanimously approved the maximum fiscal year 2026 commercial tax shift and directed staff to prepare two senior property tax relief warrant articles for May 2026 Town Meeting. The board voted 4-0 to set a commercial-industrial-personal property factor of 1.75, producing a residential rate of $10.06 per thousand and a commercial rate of $19.15 per thousand — a policy in place since 2018 — saving the average homeowner roughly $705 annually compared with a flat rate. Assessors Director Cheryl Kozlowski and Board of Assessors member Eric Josephson advised against a small commercial exemption, telling the board that only two or three Stoneham buildings would realistically qualify. The board then voted 4-0 to direct Town Administrator Dennis Staples to work with the Board of Assessors on guidelines for a senior means-tested exemption and separately to prepare a warrant article to up to double existing exemptions for seniors, disabled veterans, and blind residents under MGL Chapter 59, Section 5C and a half. In an extended override discussion, Staples presented figures showing a non-override scenario leaves a roughly $7 million gap between available new revenue and the school department's $8.6 million request alone — a shortfall that, Staples noted, could not be closed even by eliminating the entire fire and police departments combined.