Select Board Adopts Tax Factor, Delays Rate Setting

Select Board · Meeting of September 23, 2026

Nahant's Select Board and Board of Assessors left the fiscal 2027 tax classification hearing open pending state certification of property values. Assessor Sheila Hambleton told the boards a filing "glitch" delayed Department of Revenue approval, so the boards could not finalize a tax rate Tuesday despite voting to adopt a residential factor of 1 and decline a residential exemption, a small commercial exemption, a senior means-tested exemption and an open space discount for fiscal 2027. Hambleton reported the town's excess levy capacity at $3,859.93.

She said fewer than 10 percent of residents qualify for the state's senior "circuit breaker" credit, the basis for the means-tested exemption, and suggested studying it before the next Annual Town Meeting. The boards voted 5-0 to suspend proceedings and reconvene September 28 at 10 a.m. by Zoom, racing an October 1 deadline to mail tax bills.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,580 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.