Brookline Select Board Approves Higher Property Taxes

BROOKLINE, MA — If you own a home in Brookline, property taxes will be going up again overall next year. But Brookline has several tax relief programs to help ease the pain for those owners who might need it most.

Brookline Select Board approved a residential property tax rate of $9.37 for $1,000 of assessed value and a commercial tax rate of $15.37 for $1,000 of assessed value. While the rates are down about 1 percent from $9.46 and $15.72 this year (about 2 percent), most property owners will see an increase because of rising property values.

The property tax bills for the median Brookline single family home will be around $12,644, up $762, or 6.4 percent. The median property tax bills for a condo owner (and there are more condo owners in town than single family homes right now) will be $4,131, up $198 or 5 percent.

When you step back what does it mean?

"The overall assessed value of properties went up 7.7 percent across the town," said Brookline's Chief Assessor Gary McCabe. The tax amount that everybody pays, the tax levey, that went up 6.2 percent collectively for everybody. That's why the rates came down. If the values didn't go up the tax rate would have gone up."

But that tax increase is going to be harder on some than others. In recognition of this, the town has supported a number of tax relief programs in an effort to help ease the burden on those who need it most.

"We are concerned about these increasing taxes. With the potential increases in the next few years for schools and infrastructure and operating budgets, these programs are a way to help ease the burden for some," said McCabe.

Each year the town sets a residential exemption, so those who live in their homes are eligible to deduct a couple hundred thousand dollars off their net worth as a way to promote owner occupancy.

If you own a home in Brookline and live here, you are eligible for this residential exemption the amount is $276,758 that amount is subtracted from your accessed value and the net is what you pay tax on. Last year the exemption was $246,000.

Last year 146 people took advantage of Brookline's tax relief programs. This year, said McCabe, the town is hoping to increase that number through new programs and awareness campaigns.

McCabe said the senior property tax deferral program was particularly underutilized, with only 10 participants.

This year a study committee chaired by Ben Franco determined to help fixed-income seniors went through the state legislative process to get the governor to approve increasing the income limit whereby a senior resident can defer paying their property tax.

The town won the Home Rule petition and now seniors on a fixed income of $86,000 or less qualify to defer to pay property tax until they sell their home or pass away.

There's also a senior tax work-off program, which was approved by Town Meeting.

"If you're 60 years old and you're on a fixed income, own a home here and pay taxes on it you can work for the town for 125 hours and get $1,500 off taxes," said McCabe. Last year some 30 volunteers worked in the library, parks the school and in the assessors' office.

The only hitch to finding tax relief in town is that you have to apply, he said. The taxpayer has to initiate.

McCabe said he's hoping that relatives or friends of seniors who own will hear about these potential tax reliefs and connect and encourage those who might be eligble to apply.

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff. Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).