Government

Meeting About Renovation of Mt. Auburn Street Planned for December

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The Watertown Department of Public Works announced it will hold an informational meeting to discuss the conceptual plans for Mount Auburn Street, focusing on the section between Patten Street (near Watertown Square) and School Street. The meeting will provide an update on the project timeline, design, and funding process through the Massachusetts Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The meeting will be held on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. During the meeting, we will also provide additional details about the current conceptual design between Patten Street and School Street.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Available to Meet with Residents Twice

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Representative Jonathan Hecht announce he will hold office hours twice in Watertown during the next few weeks. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht, Wednesday, November 16 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Watertown Town Hall in the 3rd Floor Hallway and Wednesday, December 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Library in the Raya Stern Trustees Room. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Government

How to Get Exemptions on Property Taxes or Defer Property Tax Payments

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Property taxes are on the rise, but there are ways for certain groups to cut their tax bills or for seniors to defer payment in an effort to keep them in their homes. Last week, the same night that the Town Council approved the Property Tax rates for Fiscal 2017, which will be rising, they approved programs to match the state’s property tax exemptions and to allow seniors to defer part or all of their property tax bills. Town Treasurer/Collector Joseph DiVito said he has heard from residents struggling to pay for the tax hikes. “After meeting with several constituents, elders, who want to stay in their homes, one of their responses is that they are being taxed out of their homes,” DiVito said. The Council voted to increase the maximum gross receipts residents are allowed to have and still qualify for the tax deferment program, from $40,000 to $57,000 for a single person over 65 years of age living in their own home.

Community Preservation Act

LETTER: The Election is Over, Losers Should Accept Results Nationally and Locally

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To the editor,

On November 8, 2013 the 50 States and District of Columbia held elections for President of the United States. The results are in and at last count as many as 306 electors were won by Donald Trump.For the benefit of those who forgot their High School Civics, Article 2 of the Constitution makes it clear, the Sovereign State Elect the President. The State Legislatures are empowered to select Electors in whatever manner they see fit. There is no requirement that popular vote be held. In fact it was process where States slowly started adopting a popular vote.

Government

OP-ED: Councilor on Why Property Taxes are Rising, How They Seek to Control Them

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It is unquestioned that Watertown is going through an unprecedented level of growth and change. In this type of environment, even within the confines of Proposition 2 ½, many residents struggle to pay increasing property taxes on limited incomes. In recognition of the realities residents all over town are facing, in recognition of the current and future market increases and how such trends affect our commercial and residential classes and with the Community Preservation Act being passed by voters (to be on taxpayer bills in 2018), I offer the following to the residents of Watertown as, hopefully, a form of reassurance regarding FY17 and future tax classifications. From 1998-2016 the average tax bill in Watertown increased just over 4.0% each year. Although 4.0% is the rough average, in 10 of those years the average tax bill only increased between 2.0-4.0%.

Elections

LETTER: Rough and Tumble Campaign Over, Now it’s Time to Work Together

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To the editor,

As one of the most vocal opponents of the CPA during the campaign, I’d like to congratulate the proponents on their victory.  

There is no doubt that this campaign was heated.  Often times, hyperbole came from both sides. That’s what happens in a campaign. For those of us who have been involved in politics for years, it’s not surprise, nor do we find anything out of the ordinary. Politics is a blood sport during a campaign.

Government

Town Council Gives Homeowners a Bit of a Break on Property Taxes

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The Town Council voted to give Watertown residents living in their property a bit of a break on property taxes Tuesday night be increasing the residential tax exemption, but some on the Council wanted to increase it more. 

Since 2002, the Town Council voted to have a 20 percent owner-occupied exemption, but this year – Fiscal Year 2017 – Councilors increased the exemption to 22 percent. With the 22 percent exemption and the tax shift of 175 percent from residential to commercial/industrial and personal (CIP), the tax rate will be $13.90 per $1,000 of assessed value, said Watertown Assessor Francis Golden. See the tax levy presentation here. With those factors, there will be a $192 (3.80 percent) increase on bill of the average valued owner-occupied home, worth $547,540. With the 20 percent exemption, the increase would have been $267 (5.27 percent), on the same property.

Elections

Supporters of CPA Win the Second Time Around, See How Your Precinct Voted

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The second time was the charm for proponents of the Community Preservation Act in Watertown, which won with nearly 60 percent of the vote on Tuesday. 

The ballot question will create a fund for projects in three areas: affordable housing, open space and historic preservation. Jennifer Van Campen, one of the leaders of Invest in Watertown, the group that put the CPA on the ballot, said she was confident going into election. “I actually welt that we were going to win all along,” Van Campen said. The confidence came despite the fact Watertown voters rejected the CPA in 2005. Also, there was also an active “No” campaign from the Concerned Watertown Homeowners, who funding mechanism because it would hurt families and residents struggling to afford living in town.