Mansfield Selectmen Approve Lower Property Tax Rate

The good news for Mansfield taxpayers? The town’s tax rate is going down. The bad news? The tax bill for most property owners in town is likely still going up.

Wednesday night, the selectmen approved a residential tax rate of $15.41 per $1,000 of assessed value and $20.58 for commercial and industrial properties.

While the rates are 9 and 17 cents lower than last year, that doesn’t necessarily translate into lower tax bills. Assessed value for property in Mansfield is up 4 to 5 percent, according to the Board of Accessors.

“The town is doing well, sales are booming,” Assistant Accessor Nancy Hinote said.

The main point of discussion for the selectmen was the unexpected increase in new growth. The town originally expected $800,000 from new growth but saw about $1.182 million, prompting talks on whether the rate should be based on what was budgeted at the Annual Town Meeting last spring or should include new growth.

Selectman Frank Delvecchio backed taking the extra growth into consideration and placing the extra funds into the town’s stabilization fund. The rest of the board, however, chose to vote for the lower rate.

“Every little bit helps for folks at home,” Selectman Olivier Kozlowski said.

If the selectmen voted to consider the extra new growth, rates for residential would have gone up a cent from last year while commercial and industrial rates would have decreased by 4 cents.