| Templeton Sets Tax Rate |
| Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON –– Board of Selectmen voted on Monday night to unofficially set the tax rate at $16.47 per 1,000 of property valuation for fiscal 2016, pending approval from the Department of Revenue. “Whether it’s electronically within 30 seconds or later on this week, the Department of Revenue has to approve it,” Assessors Chairman Fred Henshaw said. “They’ll say a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.” Mr. Markel said it’s a short turnaround from the Department of Revenue. The tax rate for fiscal year 2015 was $16.64 – about 15 to 17 cents higher. The tax rate was $16.24 in fiscal year 2014. Selectmen also voted to make the tax rate the same for residential, industrial and commercial properties. According to interim Town Administrator Robert Markel, voters adopted a statute that local communities can split the tax rate, if they chose, about 1980. He said communities can choose to raise the taxes for commercial and industrial properties in order to lower the tax rate for residential. However, that can strategy be perceived as being unfriendly toward businesses. Traditionally, the town has always adopted a single rate tax. |
My Name is Paul H Cosentino. I started this Blog in 2011 because of what I believe to be wrongdoings in town government. This Blog is to keep the citizens of Templeton informed. It is also for the citizens of Templeton to post their comments and concerns.
How do you "unofficially" set a tax rate?
ReplyDeleteEither you set the tax rate or you don't.
I have it from a good source that Fred Henshaw did not want to set the tax rate Monday night, when he was leaving the Selectman's Meeting. My guess is that he was going to wait to have a meeting with the rest of his Board, you know, like it is the custom. Maybe the reporter found her information from the Selectman, seeing some want to be on two boards, so why not three. Hee, hee hee ! Call them like you see them. Bev.
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