Average Tax Bill To Increase $250 In Fiscal Year 2020

ANDOVER, MA — The average single family home tax bill will increase 2.5 percent, to $10,233 in Fiscal Year 2020, after a vote by the selectmen Monday evening. The average home increased in value to $681,094, and the board voted for a 157.5 commercial tax shift, like last year. The residential tax rate will be 15.01 mills.

The new rate is slightly lower, but because the average home increased in value, most homeowners will see their bill increase.

With the 157.5 shift, commercial property owners will pay 157.5 percent of what they would pay if there was a uniform town-wide rate, while residential owners will pay correspondingly less. With a uniform rate, both would pay a $17.23 mill rate. Instead, commercial owners will pay $27.14 mills. Residential property is 81.5 percent of the town's land.

Selectmen said they favored the 157.5 shift in part because the increase in tax bill would increase by roughly the same percentage for all classes of property. While residential properties would increase 2.5 percent, industrial properties would increase 2.4 and commercial properties 2.8.

"I favor the shift that keeps it as equal as possible, 157.5. That would be historically the policy the board has taken," said Selectman Alexander Vispoli.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the 157.5 commercial shift. The board also voted against adopting an open space discount, which would not apply to any land in the town, and against granting a residential or commercial exemption. Each exemption is used by only 16 communities in the state.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.