Lexington Select Board defers tax rate vote, orders study of senior exemption petition

LEXINGTON — November 10, 2025 — Lexington Select Board keeps FY2026 tax classification hearing open and launches voter turnout task force. The board, chaired by Jill Hai, heard from Assistant Finance Director Carolyn Kosnoff that the town's total tax levy for fiscal year 2026 is $265.3 million — up 3.49 percent — with residential values rising 4.9 percent while the CIP class falls 3.1 percent; the average single-family home, assessed at $1.639 million, would see its annual bill rise roughly $878 under the maximum 1.75 shift. Hai reported that Concord's own residential exemption, adopted recently, has already created what their draft interim report calls "a perfect storm of residents requesting tax abatements," and the board directed Town Manager Steve Bartha to begin groundwork for a means-tested senior residential exemption home rule petition. The board voted unanimously to accept a Vision for Lexington subcommittee report — presented by subcommittee chair Jerry Zeter — finding that Lexington's local election turnout sits at just 10 to 27 percent despite a 96 percent voter registration rate, and directed staff to draft a charge for a new voter turnout task force. Members Doug Lucente and Mark Sandin both announced re-election bids during the meeting.