Massachusetts established the Affordable Homes Act (AHA) in 2024 that designated 25 municipalities as “Seasonal Communities” – and immediately allowed these communities to raise the RTE to 50%. The first year this could be implemented was in this year’s tax classification process where the Select Board approves tax rates, RTE and other tax items.
This marked increase in the RTE rate galvanized not only Truro’s part-timers, but part-time resident taxpayers statewide. As a result, TPRTA is also co-founding and joining forces with the MA Part-Time Resident Taxpayers Alliance (MPRTA) to promote fair, sustainable, and non-discriminatory tax relief statewide. More on MPRTA in upcoming posts.
On September 8, TPRTA presented its recommendations to modify and replace the RTE over time with more beneficial forms of tax relief to Truroites in need. Truro Part-Time Resident Advisory Committee (PTRAC) graciously heard our recommendations, which were based on compelling reviews of fiscal and demographic data affective part-timers in Truro.
You can read our analysis and recommendations here.
These included establishing a Means-Tested RTE, keeping the rate at 35% (for now), and adopting or encouraging use of other tax abatement options that will help in Truro, including seeking a home rule petition to allow persons of any age who meet the State’s “circuit breaker” thresholds to be eligible for property tax relief. Now these are available only to seniors, veterans, and the disabled. We also recommended a tax-levy community fund for tax relief to replace the RTE, the tax burden of which is shared by all.
On September 9, PTRAC mades it recommendations to the Select Board which included keeping the RTE at 35% this year while it evaluated options for a Means-Tested RTE with the intention of making a recommendation to the Select Board next summer.
The Select Board accepted PTRAC’s recommendations.
TPRTA will continue to advocate for the reform and replacement of the RTE, as part-timers have overwhelmingly sought since 2017.