Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, DECEmbER 12, 2025 Technical glitch halts City Council meeting: Fiscal 2026 Tax-Rate vote pushed to Dec. 11 By Neil Zolot A special City Council meeting to set the Fiscal 2026 tax rates and the regularly scheduled meeting to follow it were canceled due to technical problems with the ECTV cablecast of the meetings, Monday, December 8. “There were some audio issues that couldn’t be fi xed in time for the meeting to continue,” ECTV Director of Communications Kyla Galer explained. “Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of transparency, the meeting was rescheduled to 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! ensure full public access. Our technical team identifi ed the issue, completed all necessary repairs, and confi rmed that the system is now fully operational. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we worked to resolve the problem and ensure a reliable and accessible broadcast for all residents.” Continuing would have violated modifi cations to open meeting laws established during the pandemic in 2020 “that permit the convening of a public body through virtual means and allow real time public access to the activities of a public body.” Consideration of the tax rates was postponed until Thursday, December 11, and other items until Monday, December 22. An earlier plan to set the tax rate on November 24 was also cancelled because the numbers weren’t ready. The December 22 meeting www.810bargrille.com was planned as more of a ceremonial meeting than a business one: to thank people for their service, honor outgoing Councillors, welcome new ones and the like. That can happen without a quorum because no votes are required, but business cannot be conducted without a quorum. Given that it’s Christmas week it may be hard to get one, in which case another meeting might have to be scheduled for Monday, December 29. “Some business was planned for December 22, but not as much as we now anticipate,” City Council aide Michael Mangan said. Although no action was taken, the members were given a packet of proposals for the tax rates with residential property tax rates rising in the four property categories in Fiscal 2026. Proposals include taxes for the average single-family home to rise $642 from $4,405 to $5,047, the result of an increase in average value from $585,535 to $604,871; for the average two-family home to rise $992 from $6,615 to $7,607, the result of an increase in average value from $775,912 to $812,150; and for the average three-family home to rise $1,103 from $8,387 to $9,410, the result of an increase in average value from $931,555 to $959,017. The taxes on the average condominium are also proposed to rise, but only $351, from $1,913 to $2,264, the result of an increase of average value from $363,118 to $388,437. As in previous years, much of the growth in the tax base was the result of new multifamily construction and increases in personal property. The figures were calculated factoring in a Residential Tax Factor at .774312, which shifts some of the tax burden to Commercial/Industrial/Personal Property (C/I/P). (Personal Property covers items in commercial and industrial parcels, like office equipment and even barbershop chairs.) The Residential Factor governs the percentage of the tax levy to be paid by property owners. 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 classifi cation of property owner to another; 30% of cities and towns do. In other words, for every $2 raised in taxes residents paid $.73-.74 and C/I/P taxes were $1.26-1.27. It does not change the total tax levy. It simply shifts the burden between classes. Without the shift taxes would increase $649 for condominiums, $823 for a one-family home, $1,167 for a two-family and $1,205 for a three-family. An earlier incorrect version of the tax proposals had the numbers without the shift lower than those with the shift. The impact on C/I/P is an increase in $2,666 for convenience stores from $14,368 to $17,034 based on an increase in value from $624,700 to $645,700, an increase for fast food restaurants of $9,908 based on an increase in value from $2,369,500 to $2,441,500 and an increase of $6,563 for warehouses based on an increase in value from $1,578,800 to $1,625,300. A Residential Exemption Factor of 25% will also help lowAX-RATE VOTE | SEE PAGE 22 EVERETT ALUMINUM SUPPLIES 67 Years! — Vinyl Siding — Carpentry Work — Decks — Roofing — Free Estimates — Replacement Windows — Fully Licensed — Fully Insured
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