Selectmen Approve 5.9 Percent Tax Hike For Tewksbury Homeowners

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Selectmen approved tax rates earlier this month that will raise property taxes on the average, single-family home in Tewksbury $361, or 5.96 percent, to $6,415. While the new rates actually reflect a decrease in the residential property tax rate from $27.74 to $27.63 for every $1,000 of assessed value, most property owners will pay more because of higher property values.

The tax hike follows increases of 3.7 percent for the current fiscal year, 4.0 percent in fiscal 2017 and 4.9 percent in fiscal 2016. Like the current tax increase, the previous tax increases have been driven by rising property values. The average price of a single-family home in Tewksbury is $404,963 for fiscal 2019, up $29,608, for 7.9 percent from this year, according to a presentation Town Manage Richard Montouri made to selectmen at their November 8 meeting.

The average commercial property will pay $21,363 in taxes, up $321, or 1.52 percent, from $21,042 in the current fiscal year. Taxes on the average condominium in Tewksbury will be $4,865, up $272, or 5.92 percent, from $4,593 this year.

Altogether, the approved tax rates should generate $87.4 million in revenue for the town, up 6.1 percent from $82.4 million this year.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).