Clarksburg Homeowners Will See Tax Bills Rise 10 Percent
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Property owners will see their tax bills increase an average of $373 this year but they'll also see a more than $15,000 rise in the value of their homes.
The Select Board at Wednesday night's tax classification hearing voted to maintain the town's single tax rate for all types of properties, which means an estimated rate of $16.48 per $1,000 in assessed value.
The tax rate is up 66 cents over last year, or about 4 percent. Last year's average tax bill was $2,914 and this year's can be expected to be $3,287.
This is based on an average single-family home assessed at $199,438, up from last year's $184,193. The town has 614 residential parcels.
Like many communities in the region, the town has seen a strong property sales and an increase overall in residential value. Last year's total residential value was $125,855,900; this year's is up nearly $10 million at $135,772,700.
Assessor Ross Vivori said he been in a webinar for assessors a couple weeks ago and learned that the national average increase in home value is 20 percent. The town has 614 residential parcels.
"Clarksburg I think is going up just a little over 12 percent and that's based on what the markets are doing and we all know it's just gone through the roof last year and this year," he said. "I see that probably happening one more year. I think things are kind of leveling out ... then I think we'll see it take a dip as well."
That increase in residential property accounts for the overwhelming majority of the growth in the town's overall value of $142 million, up from $132 million. Commercial value is at $1,300,597, up $201,119 over last year, and industrial is $1,380,300, up $65,700.
The town took a tumble in personal property of $233,472, bringing that total to $3,595,690. This was attributed local assessment of utilities, including National Grid.
Total new growth came to $150,170, which translates to a taxable amount of only $2,376, based on last year's rate.
The maximum allowable tax levy is $2,343,438 and the amount to be appropriated to fund this year's budget is $2,340,972, leaving excess capacity of $2,466. The ceiling is $3,551,232, or the maximum the levy can reach. The tax ceiling is 2.5 percent of the town's full and fair cash value; the levy limit is based on the previous year's limit plus 2.5 percent, and any added new growth.
The town has traditionally kept to a single rate rather than shifting more burden onto commercial properties because it has a small commercial base.
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