Cheshire Property Tax Rate Rising for 2015
 The Selectmen approved a single tax rate on Tuesday. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town has set a tax rate at $11.94, up 7 percent over last year, for fiscal 2015.
The rate was set when the Board of Selectmen voted to keep a single tax rate at Tuesday's tax classification hearing.
Assessor Everett L. "Gus" Martin said shifting the rate 5 percent would reduce the residential rate to $11.33 and hike the commercial rate to $17.91.
About 91 percent of the town's tax revenue comes from residential property taxes, he said. Of the balance, 6 percent is commercial, about a half percent is industrial and the rest is personal.
"Historically, we've always been a single tax rate," said Chairwoman Carol Francesconi. Selectmen Paul Astorino and Robert Ciskowski agreed, voting to retain the single rate.
This year's rate is 78 cents higher than last year's $11.16 per $1,000 valuation. A median home value in Cheshire is about $200,000, meaning in increased tax of about $156.
The rate and calculation will be submitted to the Department of Revenue for approval.
Town Administrator Marc Webber said he had contacted the town's insurer, MAIIA, to determine if there was a way to minimize exposure regarding cutting wood at the transfer station.
"It's, too, bad," said Francesconi. "I mean it's plus or minus .. because the townspeople get free wood."
Town crews have historically stored logs — from downed trees or large limbs — at the transfer station. Residents have been free to cut up the logs for fire wood.
It hadn't been an issue until now, when concerns were raised about the town's liability should someone be injured.
Ciskowski said he had some thoughts on possible solutions, such as an annual release that would have to be signed.
"I don't want to stop anybody, but I don't want anybody to get hurt," he said
 Town Administrator Mark Webber updates the board. |
In other business, the board:
• Read into the minutes a letter from the Department of Environmental Protection and O'Connell Oil Associates Inc. about a release of gasoline at the North Street station and the procedures for soil remediation.
• Approved the hiring of part-time Officer Corey Demary, who had completed his 90-day trial period, on the recommendation of Police Chief Timothy Garner.
• Discussed the need for a municipal hearing officer to collect fines other than parking. Webber said he would look into it.
• Scheduled a meeting with auditor Thomas Scanlon of Scanlon Associates on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.; a hearing of the Mobile Home Rent Control Commission for Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., and a public hearing on the installation of a utility pole on Curran Road for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m.
• Highway Superintendent Peter LeFebvre reported that the guardrails and repairs on Windsor Road should be completed by next week. "It's been a little tougher than expected but it should be done," he said.
• Approved the replacement of light bulbs and fixtures in Town Hall through a National Grid program for $404.
• Was told the town's bond rating went up from A-plus to AA-minus, which should have some good affect on the anticipated borrowing.
Tags: property taxes, tax classification,
