Kelly, representing the Board of Assessors, and Jason, the town’s Veterans Service Officer, briefed the Select Board on local options available under recent state law to expand property tax relief for veterans.

They recommended focusing on Clause 22J (a new local option under the state’s HERO Act) that allows municipalities to increase the existing disability‑related exemptions — the town currently provides $400 for veterans with a 10% disability (Clause 22) and $1,000 for 100% disabled veterans (Clause 22E). Kelly explained that the state reimburses a portion of those amounts under current rules (example: the state reimburses $225 of the $400 exemption and $825 of the $1,000 exemption), but any additional local increase under Clause 22J would be funded locally and drawn from the overlay (the town’s reserve used to cover abatements and exemptions).

Assessors proposed adopting Clause 22J at a modest percentage increase as a starting point; they noted the town’s overlay and budget implications. Kelly provided counts: 47 households currently receiving the $400 exemption and 22 receiving the $1,000 exemption (three properties are fully tax‑exempt through other arrangements). The board and staff discussed overlay capacity — Kelly estimated the overlay could cover a moderate increase but that staff would quantify the reserve and recommended overlay adjustment before the warrant deadline.

Select Board members asked the assessors to file a placeholder warrant article by the March 1 deadline, and Kelly said assessors and the Veterans Service Officer would prepare specific language and a cost estimate for advisory and Select Board review prior to town meeting.