Marlborough Sets 2023 Tax Rates: See How Much Your Bill Will Rise

MARLBOROUGH, MA — For the third year in a row, tax rates will drop in Marlborough — but your bill will likely still go up due to rising property values.

The Marlborough City Council Monday set the 2023 tax rates, again choosing to split the tax rate between residential property owners and commercial/industrial and personal property (CIP).

The 2023 rate for residential owners will be $11.54 per $1,000 of assessed value, and $20.32 per $1,000 for CIP properties. The split rate in 2022 was $13.12 for residential properties and $22.17 for CIP; in 2021 the rates were $13.80 for residential and $24.47 for CIP.

According to Assessor John Valade, residential values increased over 17 percent on average over the past year. That means the owner of a home of average value in Marlborough could see a tax bill increase close to $200.

Marlborough set the tax rate only high enough to fund the fiscal 2023 budget, which was set in June at about $110 million. Marlborough has a larger levy capacity of about $162 million; the $52 million difference is called the "excess levy capacity," and reflects a relatively conservative city budget.

Also on Monday, the council approved a request from Mayor Arthur Vigeant to transfer about $885,000 in excess revenue from the previous year to help offset the tax rate.

The tax rates approved by councilors Monday still have to be approved by the state Department of Revenue.