Frequently Asked Questions

Interactive Sharrow Location Map

Please stop by the Engineering Department and we will be glad to assist you with this matter. We have the most current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps and many other plans on file that we will research to help aid you in determining if your property is contains a Flood Zone or and other Wetland Resource areas.

The Engineering Department reviews all site plans for all new residential construction. Please refer to the Residential New Construction application packet. Additional permits may be necessary through other Town departments.

You should first contact the Engineering Department to determine if municipal sewer is available in your area. If sewer is available, consult with a licensed contractor to file a Sewer Permit Application (PDF) with the Engineering Department.

Many of today's medical treatments can be offered right in the home. Through Stoughton Public Health Association, a wide range of services are available. We offer everything from skilled nursing care and rehabilitation to wound care in the privacy and comfort of your home.

• Have you been hospitalized recently?
• Have you been diagnosed with a new illness?
• Has your medication recently changed?
• Has your medical condition recently changed?
• Do you have recent changes in your ability to get around?
• Do you feel you're at risk for a fall?
• Are you confined to your home or have difficulty getting out?
• Do you need teaching to better manage your care?

You may wish to discuss your needs with your doctor and family to determine if home-based care is right for you. Or, if you prefer, call Stoughton Public Health Association to discuss your needs.

• At Stoughton Public Health we are committed to providing skilled care to you in the comfort of your own home. This can promote a faster recovery and improves the quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
• We have been serving the community for over 100 years. Just in the last year, we provided 3,601 Skilled Nursing visits, 1,529 Physical Therapy visits, and 501 Occupational Therapist visits to patients.

Stoughton Public Health Association (commonly called Stoughton VNA) is a Medicare Certified Agency. We offer a variety of services:

• Nursing
• Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy
• Home Health Aides
• Medical Social Worker

Eligible services are billed to Medicare /Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, Tufts Health Care, Harvard Pilgrim, and Workman's Comp.

Stoughton Public Health Association (commonly called Stoughton VNA) provides home care services to the following towns:

• Stoughton
• Avon
• Brockton
• Canton
• Easton
• Randolph
• Sharon

Both Basic Literacy and English for Students of Other Language workshops are approximately 18 hours in length. Topics addressed in the workshops include adult learning theory, learning styles, reading strategies, the writing process, conversation techniques, goal setting, lesson planning, and others. Training participants' work in small groups and pairs, view video segments, and practice applying newly learned techniques in class.

The students are people who range in age from 19 to 75, live in the greater Stoughton area and may come from countries other than the United States. Some of the students are Americans who struggled for years with literacy issues. While some of the students come to the program with major reading difficulties, others desire to improve their writing or speaking skills. For some students, whether American or immigrant, the G.E.D. is a prized goal. Regardless of what specific literacy challenge brought them to the program, the students share the goal of improving their skills.

Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts-Stoughton believes that the ability to read and write is critical to personal freedom and the maintenance of a democratic society. The mission of the LVM-Stoughton, therefore, is to promote increased literacy for Stoughton-area adult learners through the effective use of volunteers, the provision of support services for volunteers and learners, and collaboration with individuals, groups, or organizations desiring to foster increased literacy.

The town of Stoughton and the Massachusetts Department of Education funds LVM-Stoughton. These funds pay for part-time staff and books and materials specifically created for the adult literacy population.

If you or your company/organization would like to contribute to this important cause, please contact the program at 781-232-9360.

Real estate is the physical land and all that's affixed to it. The tax on it is an ad valorem (based on value) tax and that tax funds the government. Approximately 75% of the Town of Stoughton's budget (including schools) is funded through property tax.

It is the responsibility of the Assessor's Office to establish the taxable valuation of each individual piece of property in the Town. However, the Assessor's do not create value. Buyers and sellers create the value via their transactions in the marketplace. The Assessors have the legal and moral responsibility to study those transactions and assess the property accordingly.

At Town Meeting each year a budget is voted on by Town Meeting members taking into account the limits of Proposition 2 ½, and how much money will be needed to meet all appropriations and other expenses. The Assessors have no control over the Town's Budget.

The difference between the amount approved and the money received from other revenue sources (i.e. state aid, licensing fees, permits, automobile excise taxes) must be raised by property taxation.

The valuation assessments are developed independently from the budget and are used only in the last step of the budgeting process to distribute the Tax Levy. Changing property values does not affect the overall Tax Levy, but it does redistribute the levy. The Assessors calculate the annual tax rate as a means to distribute the Town's budget obligations.

The tax rate is calculated by taking the total tax to be levied and dividing by the total valuation of taxable property. This results in a tax rate expressed in dollars per thousand dollars of valuation.

• Real Estate taxes are billed quarterly. Over the course of the Town's fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) the due dates are August 1, November 1, February 1 and May 1 (or the Monday that follows these dates if they fall on a weekend or holiday).
• If you have a tax bill, send a check and the Collector's copy of the bill to the address listed on the tax bill. Please do not include any correspondence as this goes directly to the Town's bank for immediate processing.
• If you want a receipt or need to pay in cash or simply want to pay in person, come to the:
  Stoughton Town Hall - Collector's Office
  10 Pearl Street
  1st floor
  Stoughton, MA 02072

Questions regarding the payment of your bill can be directed to the Office of the Treasurer/Collector at 781-341-1300, ext. 9225.

The appeal process for disputing your property tax bill is via the Abatement Procedure. The application is available at the Assessor's Office in Town Hall and must be filed within 30 days from the mailing of the third quarter tax bill. No abatement can be granted unless the application is filed on time.

Filing an appeal does not put your tax payment on hold. Tax payments need to be rendered in a timely manner in order to protect further appeal rights to the State.

If you think your assessed value is wrong you must provide your opinion of value on the abatement application. You may attach an appraisal to the application to support your opinion of value, but you must realize it is another appraiser's assumption and may have been influenced by the purpose of the appraisal.

The Board of Assessors has 90 days from the date the application was received to act on the appeal. Each and every appeal will receive written notification of the Assessor's action.

Any amendment to taxes paid is adjusted on the third and fourth-quarter tax bills. If there has been an overpayment, a refund is generated at the close of the fiscal year (June 30).

If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the Board of Assessors, you may file an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board, but this must be done within 3 months of the Assessor's decision.

For further information contact the Assessor's Office at 781-341-1300, ext. 9238.

Proposition 2 ½ is the title given to an initiative petition adopted by voters in Massachusetts in 1980.

The principal features of Proposition 2 ½ are related to the total amount of property taxes which a city or town can raise each year. It contains two limitations on the amount of property taxes to be raised:

• The property tax levy ceiling (the amount raised) can never exceed 2 ½ % of the full cash value of all taxable property in the town
• A tax rate can not be higher than $25 per $1,000 of valuation
• The property tax levy limit cannot be increased more than 2 ½% over the prior levy limit unless it gets voter's approval to override the cap

The levy limit provision of Proposition 2 ½ affects the total amount of taxes to be raised by the town. It does not apply to an individual tax bills.

Whether the tax rate for a community will increase or decrease from the prior year will depend upon the levy decided upon by the community. It also depends on whether property values appreciate, depreciate or remain steady in the particular community.

Anyone qualifying as a Veteran under the MGL Chapter 4, Section 7, clause 43, may be eligible for veterans’ benefits from the community in which they reside, provided that they meet the Income and Asset Limits for this needs-based, means-tested program of financial assistance. However, applicants whose income is only slightly above the income limit may be eligible for medical benefits at a “spend down” adjustment amount. Check with your local Veterans Services Officer (VSO) for the current Income and Asset Limits.

Unlike many states, Massachusetts extends the coverage for veterans’ benefits beyond the veteran to his or her eligible dependents. These eligible dependents may also apply for veterans’ benefits. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran, provided that the spouse was married to the veteran at the time of his or her death, is considered an eligible dependent. Living spouses, children, and parents might also qualify to receive benefits.

• Anyone buying or selling alcoholic beverages, whether on a regular basis or an occasional basis. There are no exceptions. Non-profit organizations may apply for one day licenses to sell any alcoholic beverage. Any other group or person may apply for a one day license to sell any alcoholic beverage.
• To serve food for sale to be consumed on the premises (Common Victualler License)
• To buy or sell motor vehicles on more than an occasional basis
• To buy or sell used merchandise, except for occasional yard sales at a private residence
• To provide entertainment to the public
• To do any work in a public way or on Town property
• To install any water or sewer connection on public or private property

Submit a letter in writing detailing the request and the reasons supporting that request. Every effort will be made to resolve your request without the need to meet with the Select Board.

Regular meetings are scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Meetings are usually held in the Great Hall, third floor, Town Hall at 7 pm. Please see "List of Meetings" for more detail.

Generally speaking, job openings are advertised in the Stoughton Pennysaver and the appropriate professional publications. More specifically:

• Police and Fire - Stoughton is a Civil Service community. Applicants must apply to Civil Service and successfully pass an examination. Applications for Civil Service exams are available in the:
  Town Manager's Office
  10 Pearl Street
  Stoughton, MA 02072
• Public Works - The Public Works Department is also Civil Service. Applications are available at the:
  Public Works Office
  950 Central Street
  Stoughton, MA 02072

Regular meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Great Hall, third floor, Town Hall. Meetings in preparation for a special or annual town meeting are usually advertised in the Stoughton Pennysaver.

The Stoughton Public Library strives to make all programs and services accessible to everyone. The Outreach Service of the Stoughton Public Library is a resource for patrons of all ages who, for whatever reason, find themselves homebound and unable to visit the library. Essentially, we bring the library to you!

Stoughton residents, of any age, who find themselves homebound for a period of time are eligible for home delivery service.

Besides individual homes, Christine also visits...

• Brookmeadow at Blue Hills
• Stoughton Council on Aging
• La Civita Court
• Rose Forte
• Stoughton Memorial Village
• West Stoughton Village

Any circulating library material can be requested through Outreach.  You may request specific titles or Christine will be happy to select materials based on you interests.

Individual Visits

The Stoughton Public Library offers free delivery of materials with friendly visits to homebound Stoughton residents. Books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs are delivered on a regular basis by our Outreach Coordinator, Christine Iacobucci at no charge.  We strive to offer the same access to materials that a resident would have when visiting the library in person.

Outreach Services at Senior Housing Complexes

In addition to individual home delivery, Christine actively partners with senior housing complexes. She currently visits Brookmeadow at Blue Hills, La Civita Court, Rose Forte, Stoughton Memorial Village as well as West Stoughton Village to deliver materials to their residents.

Magnifying Device Lending

Stoughton Public Library offers magnifying devices for visually impaired residents. The Optelec is a 17 inch color monitor-magnifying unit. These units allow the user to magnify reading material from 2 to 50 times. These units are delivered to your home and set up by the Outreach Coordinator. They typically go out for 2 months at a time.

If you or someone you know finds themselves homebound for a period of time, please email Christine Iacobucci or call 781-344-2711 to learn more about this great service.

• The building of an operational only fire station to house equipment and provide excellent response coverage to complement Station 2 (Central Street).
• The restoration of Freeman Street to an Emergency Operations Center, Fire Headquarters, and Public Health building
• Minor modifications to Central Street station so that second ambulance can finally be placed there – and living quarters can accommodate adequate number of firefighters with administration moving out
• $27 million for whole project. Over $6 Million to restore Freeman street will come from Federal Grants. Approximately 20.6 million will be borrowed if the referendum passes.

This is ultimately what you are voting for…. 35% of the borrowing will come annually from the Town’s municipal budget. The current budget proposed by the Select board for 2023 already has that number built in. The remaining 65% would come from a debt exclusion that would be added to your tax bill (like the High School). The total amount for the year on a home valued at $450,000 would be between $55 and $60 dollars. This number can only go up by the annual 2.5% - never more unless there was ever an override. Consequently, in the next year out, it could only go up about $1.25.

The new building would be built on 400 Prospect Street. This location was selected after an open bid process requesting people to sell properties to us as the Town did not own a large enough parcel in a location that provided optimal response times. Two owners bid. One owner bid a larger parcel and gave an option for a smaller parcel as well. The other owner (Prospect Street) bid the one property. There was a committee of staff including the Fire Chief and Town Engineer who reviewed the bids and recommended Prospect Street. While the larger property offered some options, it was a $750,000 . The smaller of those two carved out a portion of that which did not lay out in a way we could utilize well. Additionally it was $250,000 and, again, did not meet our needs. Thus Prospect Street was selected. There has been some discussion regarding a lawsuit related to this property. The Town is NOT named in the suit. The issue is between an owner prior to the current ownership who put in the bid. The Town attorneys are aware of this and monitoring to ensure that the Town is protected. 

Freeman Street would not have worked as a renovation as a fire station as the cost of that level of renovation would be extreme. Additionally, the location downtown is not ideal for equal coverage – and we simply have outgrown that spot. However, renovation to office space is much less expensive. We initially were looking to build one station that would house headquarters and serve for operations. The cost for that would have been higher as it would have involved new construction which was going to lead to about 4 million more...a larger parcel of land, etc. Instead, Freeman street will house Fire administration as well as all fire public services like Fire permitting. Also we will move our public health division over there which will allow for areas where we could do testing, vaccines, etc. in the future. Because this will serve primarily as an emergency operations center and public health facility, the funding for this portion of the project will come from Federal Grants – particularly related to the ARPA funding that resulted from the COVID pandemic.