ASHBURNHAM TO HAVE NEW TAX CLASSIFICATION

ASHBURNHAM TO HAVE NEW TAX CLASSIFICATION
Joseph Benavidez
News Staff Writer

After completing a town-wide reassessment on property values, the assessors office is recommending a plan that would increase the average residents’ tax responsibility by nearly $500 annually ultimately setting the tax rate for fiscal year 2015 to $22.28. The current tax rate for the town is $19.83.

“The biggest reason for such a jump is the schools,” the Board of Assessors said during the public hearing held during the Dec.1 Board of Selectmen meeting.

The report reads that the average single-family valuation for 2015 will be $201,657 and should the newly proposed tax rate take affect, $22.28 per thousand, would leave the average family paying roughly $4,493 next tax season.

However, it should be noted that these figures are only estimates at this time.

In order to complete the reassessment,the board of selectmen must sign a“LA-5 Classification Form” which requires approval from the state certifying primary findings. The Department of Revenue was unable to approve changes in town — such as “new  growth  revenue” estimated at $166,485 that would change the tax rate — prior to the hearing, prompting the selectmen to hold off on voting on the new tax classification until final numbers could bediscussed. 

“The state is not processing the information as swiftly as expected,” Town Administrator Doug Briggs said.

 

Tax rates are a sore subject for many Ashburnham residents. The subject was so heated during the May Town Meeting that residents almost voted down the town’s budget. Ashburnham currently has the  second highest tax rate of towns in the Commonwealth. The town has roughly ten bonds on the books —none of which will retire in the next fiscal year — and with the completion of the new J.R. Briggs Elementary School, the town will continue to have a high tax rate for years to come.

Ashburnham also does not “shift” tax responsibility to commercial and industrial payers that large municipalities often do. In cities such as Worcester or Boston where industries make up a significant portion of taxable resources a “shifted tax burden” is a viable option. In Ashburnham, industry and commercial properties make up less than 5 percent of taxable sources.

The selectmen will meet with Mr. Briggs and the Board of Assessors again on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Mr. Briggs’ office to finalize the tax classification.