Marlborough To Set 2020 Tax Rates, Increase Likely

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough City Council is set to vote on the 202o fiscal year tax rates on Monday night. The proposal before the Council includes the usual property tax split, and a slight rate increase for commercial and residential property owners.

As in recent years, Marlborough officials are proposing a split tax rate, shifting some residential burden onto commercial and industrial properties — this is the so-called CIP shift. The proposed fiscal 2020 shift would be 1.43, the same as fiscal 2019. Without the split, all property owners would pay a rate of $17.64 per $1,000 of assessed value.

If approved, property tax rates in Marlborough in fiscal year 2020 would be set as follows:

• Residential, increase from $14.07 to $14.18 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Commercial, increase from $24.95 to $25.23 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Industrial, increase from $24.95 to $25.23 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Personal property, increase from $24.95 to $25.23 per $1,000 of assessed value

Along with the property tax increase, property values have risen across the board in Marlborough.

The average value of a residential home in the city is now up to about $384,000 from $373,000 in fiscal 2019. A tax bill in fiscal 2020 will be about $5,444 for the owner of an average-valued home, about $200 higher than last year.

The City Council is set to vote on the tax rate at the regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2.