Skip to content
TownbriefStockbridge
Sign in Subscribe
Friday, November 6, 2026 Stockbridge, Massachusetts · Change town
Government · Select Board

Select Board keeps single tax rate, rejects exemptions

Stockbridge kept a single tax rate and rejected both property tax exemptions. Michael Blay presented an estimated fiscal 2027 rate of $6.72, down $0.07 from $6.79, on a $10,606,762 levy.

Email Text Facebook X

Select Board · Meeting of October 28, 2026

Stockbridge kept a single tax rate and rejected both property tax exemptions. Michael Blay presented an estimated fiscal 2027 rate of $6.72, down $0.07 from $6.79, on a $10,606,762 levy. He said a 35 percent residential exemption would have raised the rate to $7.79, and a small commercial exemption would have lifted the commercial rate to about $6.75.

The Select Board voted 3-0 on each item, after resident Peter Strauss called an uncapped exemption "terrible policy." The board also appointed Michael J. Maher Jr. interim fire chief effective Nov. 1 and approved a five-phase joint chief search with West Stockbridge, with retired chief Chris O'Brien as consultant.

In the full story:

  • Tax Classification Hearing
  • Interim Fire Chief Appointment
  • Fire Chief Recruitment and Selection Process
  • Announcements
  • Who Was There
  • Organizations And Documents Referenced
  • The complete report: 1,519 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

Members read the rest of this story and every Stockbridge meeting we cover, in full.

Become a member

A 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms

Share this story

Email Text Facebook X

Know someone in Stockbridge who follows town government? Share Townbrief Stockbridge: they can sign up free.

Share this story

Email Text Facebook X

Anyone can open a shared story. Members' stories show the free part and a sign-up line to people who are not members.