Council sends HERO Act veterans tax-abatement study to finance committee

The Malden City Council voted to adopt an order referring a request to the finance committee to meet with City Assessor Nate Kramer to study whether the city should accept provisions of the HERO Act (M.G.L. c.178, §23, Acts of 2024) to expand veterans property tax abatements.

Sponsor Councilor Spadafore told the council he saw the measure on the state website and that a small number — he estimated about 20 potentially eligible additional abatements — could be affected. He said the paper’s focus is limited to a tax abatement option under the new state law and asked the council to send the order to finance so staff can “work on those numbers.”

Councilor Winslow and Councilor McDonald both expressed support for studying the fiscal impact. The council voted to adopt the order and directed the clerk of committees to set a date with the assessor for a finance committee meeting. The motion passed unanimously.