Act NOW to Stop a Selecten's Vote to Increase Homeowner Property Taxes

In the very near future, the Foxborough Board of Selectmen will be setting our new property tax rate.  Each of us has an important role to play in influencing their decision.

As you know, Foxborough currently has a split tax rate, a rate for businesses and a rate for homeowners. Last year the Board took the shocking step of reducing the tax rate on businesses, a move that directly increased the tax bill of each home owner.   The minutes of that meeting (November 13, 2012) show the following vote: “A motion to approve a .989584 residential factor with a tax burden shift (from businesses to homeowners) of 1.04% was made by Ms. Brue and seconded by Mr. Sullivan. The motion carried 4-1-0 with Ms. Coppola opposed. (Emphasis was a part of the official minutes.)”  The minutes had earlier recorded that, “She (Ms. Coppola) is not in favor of a split rate as it is not business friendly.”

So one Board member (Ms. Coppola) pushed to eliminate the dual tax rate entirely on behalf of businesses and at the expense of homeowners. The other four Board members voted to give businesses a break by shifting a greater tax burden on homeowners.   Just for perspective, the minutes of last year’s Selectmen’s meeting (November 13, 2012) contain the following statement:  “If the town has no split tax rate, the average residential taxes will increase 7% and the average business taxes will decrease by 1.1%. A split tax rate shifts the tax burden from residential to commercial.”

It should be remembered that while the Great Recession caused the drop in all property values, it certainly did not lower our property taxes. Despite that, the Selectmen voted to further increase the tax burden on Foxborough homeowners, while giving a break to businesses at the homeowners’ expense.  Businesses have the flexibility to adjust to overhead increases. Senior citizens do not. They automatically suffer because they cannot raise their income every time the selectmen increase their property taxes. Also, it is no secret that one reason many of our own children cannot afford to live in Foxborough is because of the high residential tax rate.

Last year is in the past now, but a vote by the Board of Selectmen to eliminate the dual tax rate entirely is a distinct possibility this year. If each Selectman’s values were in the right place, the Board would be restoring the business rate to a higher level, not further lowering, or eliminating the split rate.

Information I have obtained from the Board of Selectmen is that this year’s debate and vote to set the new tax rate will take place no later than December 5th. Every residential taxpayer should make his/her views known well before that meeting. Each member of the Board may be reached by email via the town’s website: http://www.foxboroughma.gov/Pages/FoxboroughMA_BOARD/index. All Board minutes and agendas may also be found there. Watch for the Selectmen’s meeting agenda when they will vote to set the new tax rate.  Plan to attend the meeting and oppose tax breaks for businesses at the expense of homeowners.