NewBridge, Dedham Negotiating Long-Term Assessment Level, 2010 Abatement

Town officials are currently discussing an abatement with Hebrew Senior Life for a $1.47 million tax bill levied against .

While officials declined to release details of the ongoing negotiations, chairman of the Board of Assessors Richard Bremer said the latest settlement proposal could be a topic of discussion during the board’s executive session this week.

While Hebrew Senior Life is a non-profit company, Bremer said the town assessed the independent living units at the complex because the units generate more revenue than NewBridge spends.

“The independent living portion should be taxable and not part of their charitable operations,” Bremer said in a phone interview Monday.

Last year, NewBridge sought a reprieve on its 2009 bill and received roughly a 50-percent abatement, according to Robin Reyes, Dedham’s treasurer.

NewBridge’s assessment exceeded $102 million, and taxed under the residential rate of 14.72 percent for a bill of $1.465 million, Reyes said.

HSL has paid Dedham for three-quarters of 2010's bill, and has a May deadline to pay the fourth portion.

Assessors, while not taxing the hospital, on-campus school or health facilities, took into account those surrounding amenities when evaluating the value of HSL’s independent living property, Bremer said.

“The availability of those services would probably enhance the value,” he said.

While residents pay a price upfront to live at NewBridge, HSL retains ownership of the units, and thus has the sole responsibility to foot the tax bill.

The chair of the Board of Assessors referred all questions about the negotiations to Town Administrator William Keegan, who declined to comment.

According to Bremer, during the permitting process for NewBridge, HSL agreed to pay $650,000 a year in lieu of taxes on its non-profit property. Bremer added that under the agreement, the payment would go toward the tax bill HSL receives.

That agreement assured the town they would receive some revenue from the complex.

A spokesperson for Hebrew Senior Life declined comment Monday.

The issue arose at a Board of Selectmen candidates’ forum Saturday at NewBridge when a resident asked about a rumor of an increase in what NewBridge pays in taxes.

“This was actually was a part of a discussion when this property was permitted in front of the Planning Board, that some sections of this development may be eligible for property tax based on their use,” Board of Selectmen chair Sarah MacDonald said at the event.

Town officials said they have assessed the value of the independent living portion of NewBridge with the help of an outside expert and arrived at one figure, but HSL assessed the property lower. The assessed value of the property is also part of the ongoing negotiations.

“The two legal teams are in the process of negotiating what the long-term property tax payment will be,” said MacDonald.