ADAMS, Mass. — The average homeowner can expect to see their property tax bill climb $76.56 this year.

 

The Board of Selectmen set a split tax rate, which means $15.63 per $1,000 valuation for residential and a 30 percent shift at $21.50 for commercial, industrial and personal property with Selectman Joseph Nowak voting no.

 

"If we go to a 30 percent shift, this is the lowest since the 2011 tax rate," said Chair John Duval.

 

Assessor Paula Grover offered options of a single rate, which would come out to $16.54 per $1,000 valuation, and for shifts onto the commercial side starting at 10 percent. The last few years, she said, the town has used a 30 percent shift.

 

"Not all properties will change at the same rate and any decision tonight by the board has to be approved by the state Department of Revenue and may change slightly," she said.

 

The town's levy, or taxes to fund the annual budget, is $15,090,273, up $478,018 over last year. The value of the town is $912,240,529, up $100,560,538.

 

Grover said new growth came to $10,216,207, mostly from personal property and a couple new homes. Mass Electric had $2.1 million, New England Power $1.8 million and Berkshire Gas $1 million in personal property.

 

"Last year was not a good year in new growth," she said. "We had no commercial or industrial new growth last year. Some years it just happens that way."

 

The average single-home went up in value to $265,000 from $239,000. At a $15.63 tax rate, the average bill will be $4,142, an increase of $76.56. The amount for the Hoosac Valley High School project is $1.02 on the tax rate. Last year, with a rate of $17.01, the average bill had increased by $241.76 to $4,065.39.

 

"Values are going up across the board about 10 percent," said Grover. "Property values go up, tax rate goes down."

 

Nowak said he couldn't vote for a tax rate increase; Selectman Jay Meczywor said he wanted to clarify that it was a rate decrease though the tax bill will rise.

 

"What's the percentage of things going up in our world?" Nowak said. "It's kind of a protest vote for me because I've lived here my whole life and I've never seen it so difficult for people."

 

In other business, the board:

 

• Closed and signed the special town meeting warrant for Oct. 28 and the debt exclusion election for Nov. 4. These are regarding the $17 million upgrade project at McCann Technical School. The warrant will include a citizens position signed by 138 registered voters asking for a series of forums on the Greylock Glen project to inform them on what is happening, as requested at town meeting. Duval noted that there is an executive director for the glen so he believed they were getting close to meeting the citizens' request.

 

• Reviewed an Open Meeting complaint dated Sept. 17 and received that day against the board for failing to review and approve executive sessions minutes from Catherine Foster and referred it to town counsel. The board also approved and released executive session minutes for Jan. 15, 2025 and April 16, 2025, as those matters being closed.  

 

• Acting as the License Board, approved a one-day liquor license for hoplite of Pittsfield to sell beer at the Greylock Glen Visitor Center on Saturday, Oct. 4, from noon to 5. This is a post-race event for the 50-kilometer mountain bike race by the Thunderbolt Ski Runners.

 

• Heard a presentation the an open space and recreation plan being facilitated by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and funded through a grant.

 

• Set the trick-or-treat hours as 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31.

 

• Approved the placement of the signage for the Holiday Farmers Markets in November and December.

 

• Appointed Meczywor as the alternative delegate to the BRPC to replace Duval, who is retiring and stepping back from other responsibilities and "focusing my time with my grandchildren."

 

Duval spent 10 years on the executive committee and served on the board of directors. and Selectwoman Christine Hoyt said they were thankful for his time there. "You have been a consistent presence on behalf of the Town of Adams as that alternate, because our designee may have changed from year to year," she said. "You've also served as the chair for the BRPC, which I am grateful that you took those roles on, that you were representing the town in that way, and big congratulations on your retirement and all of the grandchildren."

 

Meczywor accepted the nomination from Nowak and also thanked Duval for his service. "It was definitely beneficial, perhaps, to have someone at the table, and I will happily volunteer to step into your shoes."