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 2026 is projected to be $16.87 per $1,000 property value, which is an increase of 40 cents from last year's rate of $16.47. 

 

The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $6,010.54 for an average value of $356,286. 

 

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 FY26 is approximately $369,708, which is down from FY25's figure of $777,158. 

 

The town's new growth evaluation is $3,157,478, which equates to a new growth levy amount of $52,000. 

 

"New growth revenue is property taxes derived from newly taxable properties like new construction, additions, subdivisions, and personal property," Nunez said. 

 

The total assessed value of taxable properties in town for FY26 is $1,002,804,256, an increase of $43,627,531, or 4.549 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 $3,569,222.

 

The district's tax rate for fiscal 2026 is projected to be $148, down $18 from last year's $166. 

 

The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $1.48 per $1,000 property value, or 0.74 centers per $1,000 property value twice a year. 

 

The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $527, or about $263 twice a year.