Shrewsbury Seeks State Approval For Digital Notices, Senior Tax Relief

SHREWSBURY, MA — Shrewsbury is asking state lawmakers to approve two local changes aimed at cutting town costs and expanding tax relief for older residents.

The Select Board approved two home rule petitions this week after Town Meeting passed the measures in May: one allowing the town to publish legal notices digitally rather than relying on paid newspaper ads, and another raising income and asset limits for certain property tax exemptions for Shrewsbury seniors.

The first petition would allow Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Public Schools, and town boards, committees, and departments to meet legal notice requirements through several digital options, including a newspaper website, a qualifying local news website, a statewide notice site, or a townwide notice repository, according to the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant.

Current Massachusetts law requires legal notices that must be published in a newspaper to appear in the newspaper’s print edition, on the newspaper’s website and on a statewide legal notice website, according to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 4, Section 13.

Town officials said the change could save Shrewsbury tens of thousands of dollars each year by reducing spending on required newspaper advertising.

The second petition would raise eligibility limits for certain residential property tax abatements and exemptions. Under the proposal, Shrewsbury could lower the minimum age for one exemption from 70 to 65 and increase asset and income thresholds for exemptions under state law, according to the Town Meeting warrant.

Shrewsbury’s current exemption page lists a Clause 41C senior citizen exemption for residents 65 and older, with income limits of $31,199 for single applicants and $46,799 for married applicants and asset limits of $48,499 for single applicants and $66,686 for married applicants, according to the town assessor’s exemption information.

The Select Board took up both petitions at its meeting Tuesday. With the board’s signatures complete, both measures now require approval from the Massachusetts Legislature before taking effect.

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