EV RETEVT V E ER T Vol. 34, No.49 -FREET www.advocatenews.net Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe! ADDOCCO TEAT Free Every Friday Everett serves hundreds of meals at Community Thanksgiving Dinner City offi cials, fi rst responders, residents and community leaders joined together to serve meals to attendees and celebrate Thanksgiving 617-387-2200 Friday, December 5, 2025 School Committee Defends Supt. Hart Against ‘Slanderous’ Licensing Claims By Neil Zolot M embers of the School Committee and Everett Public Schools Superintendent William Hart characterized recent remarks about his qualifi cations made at a recent City Council meeting as slanderous, at their meeting on Monday, December 1. “I don’t expect everybody will like everything I do, but it has been personal,” Hart said. “It’s slanderous in William Hart SCHOOL COMM | SEE PAGE 6 A THANKSGIVING WELCOME: From left: Everett Police Offi cer Raoul Goncalves, Everett Historical Commission Member Simone Holyfi eld, President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #40 Jermaine Bellard, Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Ward 4 Councillor Holly Garcia, City Council President Stephanie Martins (Ward 2) and Mayor-Elect Robert Van Campen. Special to Th e Advocate H undreds of residents gathered at the Connolly Center on Monday, Nov. 24, for Everett’s first annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, celebrating community, gratitude and togetherness. Building on the tradition established by Mass Badge and Zion Church Ministries, the City of Everett colTHANKSGIVING | SEE PAGE 4 F. J. LaRovere Insurance Agency, Inc. 492 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-9700 phone 617-387-9702 fax INSURANCE FOR AUTO, HOME, AND BUSINESS We offer very competitive rates, and by representing many different companies we can shop for the best price for our customers. Call us today! Open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-2700 phone 617-387-7753 fax EPS Superintendent City Council Delays FY26 Tax-Rate Decision, Weighs Higher Residential Exemption By Neil Zolot A n agenda item at a Special Meeting of the City Council held on Monday, November 24, to set the Residential Tax Factor and the Commercial/Industrial/ Personal Property (CIP) Tax Factor for Fiscal Year 2026 was tabled until Monday, December 8. “The Mass. Department of Revenue has not certifi ed the rates yet, but we’re required to open a Public Hearing,” City Clerk Sergio Cornelio explained. “We can keep it open so members of the public can speak December 8.” Under a Uniform Tax rate each class of property pays a share equal to its share of the total city value, a Factor of 1, but communities can shift the burden from one classification of property owner to another, from residents to CIP. (Personal Property covers items in commercial and industrial parcels, like office equipment and, even, barbershop chairs.) Most small towns without much business have a Factor of 1. Cities with larger businesses have a tax base shift some of the burden. In Fiscal Year 2025, Everett had a Residential Tax Factor of .737612%, the minimum factor. In other words, for every $2 raised in taxes residents paid $.73-.74 and CIP taxes were $1.26-1.27. At the regular City Council meeting that followed the Special Meeting, Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro introduced “a resolution requesting the City Council to investigate the feasibility of increasing the Residential Tax Exemption from 25% to 26-35% per Massachusetts General Laws.” The Tax Exemption is the amount taken off the tax bill for homeowners that live in their homes in their community. It reduces the amount they are taxed on. The Residential Tax Factor is the formula used to get the Residential Tax Bill. About 4,000 parcels qualify. Residents would be taxed at .73% of each dollar, with the dollar value of their home decreased for tax purposes. “The state allows municipalities to go to 35%,” DiPierro said.” I don’t think it’s a good idea to do it this year until we study the implications.” Given a positive reaction from Ward 5 Councillor and Mayor-Elect Robert Van Campen, the matter was referred to the new administration, which will take offi ce in January. DELAYS FY26 | SEE PAGE 6
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