Dalton Fire District Tax Rate Increases
DALTON, Mass.—The Massachusetts Department of Revenue approved the Dalton Fire District tax rate of $1.19 per $1,000 property value.
The tax rate has increased by 36.78 percent, or .32 cents, from last year's rate of 87 cents per $1,000 property value.
The Dalton Fire District prudential committee voted to maintain a single-payer tax rate as they have done for many years. The tax bill will be sent to 2,675 ratepayers.
The district’s tax rate is set according to its yearly budget. During the Fire District’s annual meeting, voters approved budget articles amounting to approximately $3 million.
"The difference in [fiscal year] 23’s budget to FY24’s budget is almost $200,000.00 which makes the tax rate higher," District Treasurer Melanie Roucoulet said.
Driving forces that increased the budget were related to pay increases of various district staff, budget increases for multiple accounts, funding of new accounts, and increased costs for maintenance and equipment.
The district voters increased the Fire Department's reserve for contingencies account to $50,000, a large jump from the previous fiscal year’s contingency budget of $10,000.
In addition to that the ambulance budget increased 19 percent bringing it to $703,506. The department has also budgeted $20,000 for overtime, which it did not do last year.
More information on the annual district meeting here.
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