An Order to request the City Council vote to hold the annual Classification Hearing to vote on four (4) separate items in order to establish the tax burdens for each class of property.

This ordinance directs the City Council to hold the annual classification hearing for Fiscal Year 2025 to determine the allocation of the property tax levy among four real property classes and personal property. It requires votes on four items: (1) the residential factor to determine each class's share of the levy; (2) whether to apply an open space discount (none currently); (3) whether to grant a residential exemption (option, but Mayor has opted not to apply); (4) whether to grant a commercial exemption (option, but Mayor has opted not to apply). The ordinance also references the applicable state law (M.G.L. Chapter 40, Section 56) and presents the estimated levy, levy shares by class, and the planned tax rate for FY2025, noting that the Mayor has chosen no exemptions and that the open space discount is not in effect. The purpose is to set the tax burden distribution for the coming year and establish the basis for the FY25 tax rate of about $15.30 per $1,000 of assessed value.