Waltham Property Taxes To Go Up In 2019

WALTHAM, MA — As property values rise in the city so, too, with property taxes.

Waltham City Council approved a residential property tax rate of $12.66 per $1,000 of assessed value and a commercial property tax rate of $26.45 per $1,000 of assessed value for 2019. The rates are up from $12.61 and down from $27.97 this year, and most will be paying more in taxes because of rising property values. Still, there's good news for those who live in the homes they own — in the form of a larger residential exemption.

For the more than 11,700 people who live in and own a home in Waltham; $188,290.00 will be deducted from the taxable value of your home. That means, for those who lived in the home you own since January, you get $2,383.75 deducted in property taxes for the fiscal year 2019, according to the city.

And while yes, property values are going up all across Greater Boston, including Waltham, the average assessment for a single family property in Waltham is $520,000 which means the average property tax bill will ring in around $4,199.45 next year. That's up $98.56 from last year, which appears to be the largest increase since 2011 (see the chart below) accompanied by the largest valuation of property in the past eight years. Still, it could be worse: Compare that with a $562.33 increase in Newton and an increase of $779 in Brookline.

Still, there are a number of tax relief programs for people with disabilities, veterans and low-income seniors who qualify.

One program is the City of Waltham's Taxation Fund Committee, which offers tax assistance by defraying the real estate taxes of low income elderly or low income disabled residents who meet the established guidelines.

You can find out more about the eligibility requirements at the Senior Center located at 488 Main Street or the Assessors Office at 25 Lexington St, Floor 2A, 781-314-3200. (Editors note: This address has been changed thanks to the keen eyes of a reader. The assessors moved in May!)

Fun fact: There are 14,934 residential parcels in Waltham, which has a population of about 62,400.

In November the Assessors brought a couple options before the City Councilors. The City Council voted for the first.

Related:

• How Do Waltham's Tax Rates Compare To Other Communities? (2012)
• MA Property Taxes: Tax Bills to Rise 4 Percent (2016)

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Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).