Selectmen Vote For Slight Increase In Commercial Tax Share

TEWKSBURY, MA — The Tewksbury selectmen voted Tuesday to slightly increase the town's tax shift for fiscal year 2020, thus slightly reducing the average tax burden for residential properties. The shift increased from 155% in 2019 to 156% in 2020. Homeowners will still see a significant jump in their taxes, over $500 on average, but commercial property owners will bear a bigger burden.

Town Manager Richard Montuori recommended holding the shift constant, because the majority of the tax increase is due to the elementary school building project debt exemption. But only two selectmen voted for that option, before the slight increase was approved with all in favor but the Chairman Jay Kelly, who wanted to go even higher.

"Of the $519 dollar average tax bill increase, approximately $350 of it is because of the new school. and that was a debt exclusion voted by the residents," Montuori said. "The feeling was that, this particular year, it was not fair to shift any further than we already have to businesses."

Kelly said he wanted to increase the tax shift primarily because he was worried about seniors on fixed incomes.

"On a fixed income, that doesn't go up four percent, six percent, eight percent a year," Kelly said. "We're lowering the tax burden on all residents with the tax shift."

Selectman Mark Kratman proposed the 1.56 shift as a "happy medium" after the status quo option failed.

With the 1.56 shift, the average single family home tax bill will be $6,921, a $503 increase over fiscal year 2019. The residential rate is $15.97 per $1,000 in assessed value, versus $28 for commercial properties.

The board voted against having a residential exemption, a small commercial exemption, or a discount for open space properties.

The board also heard from the Powers and Sullivan auditors regarding the fiscal year 2019 audit, which showed, "in this local area, you're up there with the best," in the words of auditor Richard Sullivan.

The board also approved some routine business, including a snow plowing contract, a corporate ownership change at 99 Restaurant, and town counsel invoices.

The full meeting video is available from the Tewksbury Telemedia Department.

Christopher Huffaker: 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.