Selectmen Vote on Tax Rates For Fiscal Year 2012

With guidance from the Town Appraiser, Administrator, Treasurer Collector, and Accountant, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Monday night in favor of “option 2” out of various tax rate classification options in which the “average” household tax bill will increase 2.79%, reflecting the smallest overall increase since 2008 – 09.               

According to Town Administrator Robert Mercier, with this plan, the tax rate of the residential sector will increase by only .05 cents per thousand ($11.55), and keep the CIP (Commercial, Industrial, Personal Property) rate below $31 (30.95), a threshold the town did not wish to breach.  

“’Option 2’ would be the best and fairest for taxpayers,” said Town Appraiser, Jim Doherty.

According to a letter presented to the Board by Mercier, the financial team created the options based upon the approved budget from the May 2011 Town Meeting, and then attempted to “put together a ‘fair’ break down for both classes of properties given the stresses on both Burlington’s residents and Commercial partners."

“I feel comfortable with ‘option 2’ because we are keeping it under the [previously established threshold of] $31,” said Board Chairman Walter Zenkin.  

A goal of no more than a 4% overall levy increase was established during last year’s budget preparation, and that goal was taken into consideration and ultimately accomplished as reflected in the classification options. 

Town Accountant Paul Sagarino, Jr. stated that he feels his Finance team could make a few plans work in a financial sense, however ‘option 2’ would be ideal.

By settling the rate, the Board also preserved Burlington’s excess tax capacity at approximately $2,526,882.

The Finance team is ultimately confident their data shows that Burlington is, indeed, competitive in the market compared to other communities because of tax policy, despite “perception” by community members to the contrary.