THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 3, 2021 Page 5 Malden City Council approves new 2022 property tax rate Average Malden homeowner will see a $307 increase this year; Council continues residential tax exemption By Steve Freker T he Malden City Council unanimously approved a new property tax rate for residential and commercial property owners at Tuesday night’s meeting. Following a presentation by Nate Cramer, Chairman of the Malden Board of Assessors, and a public hearing on their proposal, the City Council voted, 110, to adopt the tax factor advised by the Board. That figure for 2022 will be $12.35 per $1,000 of assessed value for residential property owners and $19.17 per $1,000 of assessed value for commercial property owners. Last year’s 2021 property tax rates were $12.29/$1,000 for residential property owners and $19.14/$1,000 for commercial owners. According to Cramer, the increase will mean an increase of approximately $307 for the average Malden single-family homeowner and about $1,100 for commercial property owners. The City Council also approved another year of a 30 percent owner-occupied resiin Malden is now assessed at $503,000, the first time in municipal history that this assessment has surpassed $500,000. In 2021, the single-family home assessment was $486,000. This represents an increase of nine percent in one year. There was brief discussion on the merits and detractions of going up or down with the residential tax exemption. Cramer said there are only 16 communities in Massachusetts which ofNate Cramer Chairman Board of Assessors dential tax exemption (reduction). That exemption computes a reduction of about $2,000 per owner-occupied residence. The residential exemption is offered only to those residences with a value below $977,000. In Malden, that means there are seven single-family homes, 23 two-families, 23 three-families and a number of apartment buildings that do not qualify. Cramer also reported that the average single-family home Sen. Lewis joins Senate vote for Nero’s Law to protect police dogs S tate Senator Jason Lewis recently joined a unanimous vote in the Massachusetts State Senate for An Act allowing humane transportation of K9 partners, which is also known as Nero’s Law and ensures that law enforcement officers’ K-9 partners can receive life-saving medical attention and transport if injured in the line of duty. The bill comes in response to the tragic events in 2018 that took the life of Yarmouth Police K-9 Sergeant Sean Gannon and severely injured his K-9 partner, Nero. “Police dogs often assist our law enforcement officers in dangerous and sometimes deadly situations to protect public safety,” said Lewis. “I’m very pleased that the Senate has passed Nero’s Law in honor of the memory of Sgt. Sean Gannon.” In April 2018, Gannon was shot and killed while serving a warrant in Barnstable. Despite the multiple empty ambulances on site, Nero had to be rushed to the animal hospital in the back of a police cruiser. Current Massachusetts law prohibits emergency medical personnel from treating and transporting animals. Fortunately, Nero survived his injuries, but the inability to transport him showed that reform is needed to better care for police working dogs that risk their lives every day to serve the Commonwealth. Nero’s Law authorizes emergency medical service personnel to provide emergency treatment and transport of K-9 partners. This includes basic first aid, CPR and administering life-saving interventions, such as naloxone. On November 15, the Massachusetts House of Representatives referred Nero’s Law to its committee on Ways and Means. fer this exemption to residents. In the greater Boston area, Malden is at 30 percent, Everett at 25 percent, Medford at 30 percent, Chelsea at 35 percent and Somerville at 35 percent. Cramer explained that if Malden goes to a higher percentage, it would have immediate adverse effects, as in heavy tax increases for commercial and non-exemption residential property owners. Councillor-at-Large Debbie DeMaria noted that Cramer and the Board of Assessors had done a great deal of work in the past two years identifying, and eliminating, inappropriate claimants of the residential exemption. Residential tax revenues have increased. That is because the number of claimants has been reduced from 8,359 to 8,291. “They have done a tremendous job; it’s great to see only those truly eligible are receiving this exemption,” Councillor DeMaria said. ~ Under New Ownership! ~ Robert’s Restaurant 251 Broadway, Rte. 99, Malden * (781) 397-0628 Hours: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Family-owned & Operated The BEST Breakfast & Lunch for 32 Years! 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