Rochester approves new property tax rate
From left: Select Board members Paul Ciaburri, Adam Murphy and Bradford Morse at a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
From left: Select Board members Paul Ciaburri, Adam Murphy and Bradford Morse at a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
ROCHESTER — The property tax rate has been set at $10.62 per $1,000 of assessed property value, with a single rate across all property types.
The Select Board approved this year’s rate at a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting after a presentation by Director of Assessing Karen Trudeau.
She said the new rate is an increase of 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed property. The rate will be the same for residential and commercial properties.
Trudeau recommended against adopting an open space discount, which reduces the tax rate for properties classified as open space.
She also recommended against adopting a residential or small business exemption, which would reduce the taxes low-income residents and small businesses would pay.
The Board of Assessors has never recommended the town provide exemptions “because it just raises the taxes and it shifts the burden to other classes,” Trudeau said.
