DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted to maintain a single tax rate, as it has done historically, during its meeting on Monday night. 

 

This means all types of properties within the town, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, will be taxed at the same rate.

 

The town's tax rate for fiscal year 2025 is projected to be $16.47 per $1,000 property value, which is a decrease of 54 cents from last year's rate of $17.01. 

 

The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $5,561.06 for an average value of $337,648.

 

Residential properties continue to represent most of the total value in town, at approximately 86 percent, with commercial, industrial, and personal property only making up about 14 percent, Assessor's Clerk Lee Nunez said.  

 

The town's excess levy capacity for FY25 is approximately $777,158, which is down from FY24's figure of $864,386.07. The town takes this figure into consideration when developing the budget. 

 

The total assessed value of taxable properties in town for FY25 is $959,176,725, an increase of $63,853,860, or 7.13 percent over last year. 

 

The Dalton Fire District's prudential committee also voted to maintain a single-payer tax rate, as it has done for many years, at its meeting on Tuesday. 

 

The Fire District and town are two separate governing and taxing bodies. The Fire and Water departments are the Fire District's responsibility. The Board of Water Commissioners and the Prudential Committee govern the district.

 

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 $3,524,680 for fiscal year 2025. 

 

A number of the budget hikes were caused by increases outside the district's control, specifically insurance, Water Commission Chair James Driscoll said during the annual meeting. 

 

The district's tax rate for fiscal 2025 is projected to be $1.66 per $1,000 property value. 

 

The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $559.42 for an average value of $337,648.