Matt Thomas has provided Municipal Tax Title Services to municipalities across Massachusetts since 1994. At the present time, Matt is serving as Special Counsel to the Finance Department of the City of Fall River and providing Municipal Tax Title Services to the City. Over the past fourteen years, Matt has developed and assisted the City of Fall River Financial Services Departments in implementing the Tax Title Collection Initiative (the “Tax Title Initiative”). During this period of time the City of Fall River has collected over $26 Million of past due real estate taxes and over $ 8 Million of accrued Treasurer’s Interest while foreclosing on less than 35 properties.
The recent enactment of Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024 brought significant changes to Massachusetts’ Tax Title Law. Matt is currently working the Treasurer’s & Collector’s Office in the City of Fall River to develop best practices under the new law that will allow the City to continue to collect unpaid real estate taxes in an efficient and equitable fashion.
Pursuant to changes brought about by the recent enactment of Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024, it is no longer necessary to obtain the approval of the Commonwealth’s Economic Assistance Coordinating Council for Tax Increment Financing Agreements approved by municipalities. Matt is currently working with several municipalities to develop guidelines and processes to negotiate and approve Tax Increment Financing Agreements in a transparent fashion that is mutually beneficial to the residents of the municipality and the private sector.
Matt is a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers.