Keep Framingham Affordable
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Every tax is a pay cut. |
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| Board raises taxes by $180 | Wednesday, December 21, 2005 - Updated: 12:07 AM EST |
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| David McLaughlin 508-626-4338 | Metrowest Daily News |
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FRAMINGHAM -- The average homeowner will see a spike of $180 in their property
tax bills after selectmen last night approved the tax burden to be carried by
residents and business owners.
The average single-family tax bill will be $4,309, a 4 percent increase over last year. The new average bill is based on a tax rate of $11.35 and an average home value of about $379,000. Last year’s average value was about $350,000 with a tax rate of $11.79. Selectmen voted unanimously to place the largest tax burden, or shift, allowed by law onto commercial and industrial property owners, rebuffing a request from the business community for a break. Framingham has different tax rates for residential and business property owners. The new commercial tax rate is $29.10. Last year, selectmen decided against placing the maximum tax burden on businesses, but last night they argued it was time to give homeowners a break after a steady rise in real estate values and property taxes. Selectman Dennis Giombetti called the decision "the fair and equitable thing to do." MetroWest Chamber of Commerce President Ted Welte argued against the move, telling the board that a high tax burden could keep businesses from growing in town or even cause them to move out. But Selectman Charlie Sisitsky countered that there is more to doing business in Framingham than property taxes. "I think (businesses) know we appreciate them and the things they do for the town," he said. This year’s average tax increase is slightly more than last year, when homeowners saw a jump of about $150. In fiscal 2003, the town hit them with an increase of nearly $400. If selectmen did not approve the maximum tax shift for businesses and instead settled on the next highest shift, single-family homeowners would have seen a $195 rise in their bills. According to information from the assessor’s office, this fiscal year saw a doubling of residential new growth, or new construction, over last fiscal year, which Chief Assessor Michael Flynn attributed in part to the conversion to condos of Chapel Hill apartments on Rte. 9. The value of new growth in the commercial sector also had a hefty jump from $8 million last fiscal year to $18.8 million this year. That increase was driven by a new office building near Staples and the expiration of two tax increment financing agreements, Flynn said. |
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