MATTAPOISETT — Owners of residential property will see a slight increase of their taxes in 2019, under the single tax rate approved by Selectmen Tuesday night. 

Mattapoisett residential property owners will see an average $168 increase on tax bills, a 2.61 percent increase over last year. 

During the meeting, Selectmen unanimously approved a recommendation by the Board of Assessors to retain a single tax rate of $13.22 per $1,000. This is only a $0.20 increase from the previous year. 

Technically, the board has the option to choose a split tax rate, but it is unlikely because the town is 94 percent residential, and separating the tax rate for businesses would be detrimental to them.

“Clearly it doesn’t make sense for us to entertain the thought of a split tax rate,” said Principal Assessor Kathleen Costello. 

Under a tax rate that is split, commercial property owners in town would be required to pay a higher tax rate than residential property owners. 

“It’s never going to work,” said Costello. “It’s not going to save our residential people and it’s certainly going to hurt our commercial people.”

Selectmen approved the single tax rate.