East Longmeadow Assessors Deny Tesla Lease Trust Motor Vehicle Excise Abatement

EAST LONGMEADOW — May 20, 2026 — East Longmeadow assessors deny Tesla Lease Trust motor vehicle excise abatement and launch state-mandated property inspections. The Board of Assessors voted 3-0 at its May 20 meeting to deny an excise abatement for Tesla Lease Trust on a 2023 bill, the only contested action taken after a 25-minute executive session. Chairman Martin Grudgen, Clerk Marilyn Ghedini, and Assessor Hayden Smith also reviewed and signed Motor Vehicle Excise Commitment No. 3 for $137,669.96 and ratified revised state reimbursement submissions totaling $328,932 — including a $310,798.08 MDM-1 report for veteran, senior, widow, and blind exemptions and an $18,133.92 veteran excise reimbursement, both corrected before a May 30 state deadline. Director of Assessing Keri-Ann Wenzel reported that cyclical property inspections began May 8, with one Bishop and Associates representative working through roughly 500 parcels expected over May and June, and that approximately 462 open building permits must be cleared before FY2027 interim value adjustments can begin. Commercial property owners who have not returned their FY2027 income and expense forms face a $250 penalty on their third-quarter tax bill.