Great Barrington – Because of what Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin described as a “significant” increase in taxable properties, the town tax rate that was approved at a level of $14.22 per thousand of evaluation during the Annual Town Meeting has been readjusted downward by 50 cents to $13.72.
Still, this rate 16 cents above last year’s.
The new information about the aggregate property values and tax rates were announced Monday (August 25) during the annual Tax Classification Hearing before the Selectboard and the Prudential Committee of the Fire District.
At the same time, the Selectboard unanimously adopted a single tax rate, rejecting – again – a split rate rate for commercial and residential property. The Board of Assessors had also recommended the single rate structure.
The board also declined three additional tax-rate options: open space discount, residential exemption – a rate structure advocated by Finance Committee member Michael Wise – and a small commercial exemption.
During the discussion of tax-rate options, Selectboard Chair Deborah Phillips read a letter from School Committee member (and former member fo the Planning Board) Richard Dohoney, who pointed out that “Great Barrrington is the only community in Berkshire County with a large business center that does not employ a split tax rate.”
He added that of the communities with a single tax rate, Great Barrington has “the largest police budget, largest Fire Department budget and largest DPW budget.”
He stated that it was unfair for residential taxpayers “to bear the burden created by the municipal services required to serve our commercial properties.”
Instead, he proposed that a split tax rate would offer relief to residential taxpayers by “capturing revenue … through a higher commercial tax rate.”
Dohoney was not in the audience during the hearing, but members of the Finance Committee were, including Walter F. Atwood III.
He argued that with a split rate an average business could see taxes increase $9,200 and $14,000.
Wise urged the Selectboard and fellow Finance Committee members to examine more closely the advantages of the residential exemption that would adjust the tax burden within the residential category so that the tax burden would shift away from lower priced dwellings to more expensive ones and to multi-family dwellings and apartment buildings.
“The residential exemption requires more attention, and it will come before the Finance Committee,” he said.
But Finance Committee Chairman Sharon Gregory advised that the time to discuss the pros and cons of tax rates would be during strategic planning sessions before the Tax Classification Hearing.
According to Assessor Christopher Lamarre, the total taxable value in Great Barrington rose during the last year to $1,370,499,134, an increase of $48,119,889, or 3.6 percent.
Of that increase, the residential sector rose 4.1 percent, or $42,571,922 to $1,036,208,286.
“That’s the good news,” he commented.
Tabakin, however, noted that, driven by the residential development, the town had experienced “a big increase in taxable property,” allowing the town meeting approved rate to decline by 50 cents.
The median single home value was up 3.6 percent, or $10,200, from $284,200 to $294,400. That translated to a $185 increase in the property tax bill, from $3,854 to $4,039.
The average single family home value increased $15,335, or 4.2 percent, Lamarre reported, from $359,183 to $374,518. The result was a tax increase of $267, from $4,871 to $5,138.
At the same time, the average commercial property value rose only 2.2 percent, from $670,464 to $682,551, resulting in $274 in higher taxes annually.
“Substantially, all of the commercial value increase of $5 million in commercial property, from $236 million to $241 million can be attributed to new growth,” Lamarre wrote in his analysis for the board.
He also pointed out that the Community Preservation Act is estimated to generate $418,600 in fiscal 2015, a sum that can be used for recreation, historic preservation and affordable housing. The state will match a portion of that amount.
The Prudential Committee did not have such good news for the users of town water. Joining the Selectboard in endorsing a single tax rate, the committee increased the levy by 21 percent, from 70 cents per $1,000 of evaluation to 85 cents.
In other matters, Selectboard members commended parking enforcement officer Sharon Nourse for her 26 years of service, and presented her with a certificate of their appreciation.
“We miss Sharon already,” declared Police Chief William Walsh. “She has done tons of jobs. She pays the bills and makes up payroll for the department, and she’s a trouble shooter for us.”
And addressing Nourse as she stood before the board to accept her commendation, Walsh said: “I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done these 26 years.”
Town Manager Tabakin was quick to point out, however, that although Sharon Nourse is no longer patrolling the town’s parking spaces, that does not mean that enforcement has stopped.
“This does not mean we’ve stopped enforcing the rules. We are still enforcing parking regulations,” she said, “and we have a special police assignment for that function.”
