By Town Administrator, Michael Canales
At the upcoming Annual Town Meeting, Stockbridge voters will consider two articles that would expand property tax relief for veterans by adopting enhanced exemption options under Massachusetts law.
Article 10 proposes that the Town accept the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22I. This clause authorizes an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the exemption amounts for several veteran-related property tax exemptions. The adjustment would be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring the value of these exemptions keeps pace with inflation. Notably, other senior exemptions already receive CPI-based adjustments in Stockbridge.
The exemptions eligible for this CPI increase include:
• Clause 22 — Basic veteran exemption
• Clause 22A — Veterans with certain service-connected disabilities
• Clause 22B — Veterans with severe disabilities or limb loss
• Clause 22C — Veterans with specially adapted housing
• Clause 22E — Veterans with 100% disability
• Clause 22F — Surviving spouses of military personnel who died in the line of duty
If approved, the CPI-based adjustments would begin in Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025) and would allow these exemption amounts to increase automatically each year without requiring additional Town Meeting votes.
Article 11 proposes acceptance of Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J, which provides an even greater benefit. Clause 22J doubles the exemption amount for the same categories listed above—but only for veterans or surviving spouses who meet state income eligibility thresholds, consistent with the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.
In effect, qualifying individuals could receive a 100% increase in their veteran exemption, offering significant additional relief for those on fixed or limited incomes.
Together, Articles 10 and 11 would provide meaningful financial support to Stockbridge veterans, helping ensure their tax relief reflects both economic conditions and the town’s appreciation for their service.
These articles will be presented to voters at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 19th at 6:30 PM.
