Clarksburg Sets Tax Rate for 2014
 The Selectmen set a single tax rate that comes to $13.39 per $1,000. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town set a tax rate of $13.39 per $1,000 property valuation on Wednesday night, up 35 cents from this year.
The Selectmen voted to continue using a single rate for commercial and residential rates, which determined the tax rate based on the available levy and the amount of the budget to be appropriated.
"We could raise the commercial tax rate significantly and it really wouldn't impact the rate, there's not enough," said Chairman Carl McKinney. "We have residential properties of $114 million and open space is zero, commercial is $1.7 million and industrial is shy of $900,000."
Some $2.5 million worth of commercial properties wouldn't provide any relief for homeowners. The board agreed and voted to keep the rate single.
Assessor Ross Vivori said the town realized growth of just over $200,000 and, once the figures were calculated, a levy limit of $1,590,782.
Town meeting approved in June a 2014 budget of $3.84 million, of which $1,150,409 is to be raised by taxation.
Vivori said the rate could go up or down a penny once submitted to the state Department of Revenue but "should remain relatively the same."
The average single-family home, assessed at about $170,000, should see its tax bill rise about $60.
In other business, the board:
• Was told the tree that was leaning over the library was taken down. The twin truck had split last month during one of the high wind storms and fell in front of the library; the remaining portion was considered a danger to the building. The Finance Committee had approved $700 from its reserve account for the removal, which was done by Stash an dah Boyz tree service.
• Postponed action on the alcohol license for the North Adams Country Club, which is currently closed while the golf course is reconstructed. Town Administrator Thomas Webb said he is waiting for the town's lawyer and asked it be delayed until next week's staff meeting.
• Webb recommended the board change the way it pays the building inspector because of confusion over which inspector is properly paid. The town appointed William Meranti as inspector but longtime inspector Vincent Lively is still owed fees from some inspections. The inspector gets a percentage of the permit fees and Webb suggested paying them a set salary instead.
Tags: property taxes, property values, tax classification,
