Politics & Government

Foxborough's Board OKs Split Tax Rate

Selectmen vote 3-2 Tuesday to split the tax rate.

Foxborough's board of selectmen voted 3-2 at Tuesday night's meeting to split the tax rate for the town's residential and business taxpayers. Selectmen Chairman Larry Harrington and board member Mark Sullivan cast the two votes against the spilt rate.

The purpose of the annual Tax Classification hearing was to review property valuations of all four property classes subject to taxation and decide whether to maintain a single tax rate or shift more of the burden away from residential to business.

By voting in a spilt rate, as recommended by the board of assessors, there will be a lower rate for residential taxpayers and a higher rate for business taxpayers.

The numbers are broken down as:

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  • Residential taxpayers: $13.73 per $1,000 of value
  • Business taxpayers: $14.86 per $1,000 of value

Fiance Director Randy Scollins presented a close look at the property valuations, which showed that business values have decreased considerably more than residential values, concluding in a higher burden of the tax levy falling on residential taxpayers.

"They (businesses) are looking at essentially no increase, as to where residents are," noted Scollins. He went onto state that the decision rebalances it.

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Foxborough is not alone in this decision, as nine other area communities have done the same according to Scollins.

A growing number of communities hit hard by a stale economy and declining budgets of homeowners, are being faced with the tough decision as to who should pay how much.

Tom Buckley, chairman of the board of assessors, said that the board arrived at their recommendation after a very long decision.

"It is fair to everyone. We looked at the big picture - that's how we came about it."

Residential taxpayers will save an average of $101.85 in the 2012 fiscal year due to the spilt tax rate decision.

Selectmen did express their concerns, as business taxpayers will see an average increase of $542.67.

The decision as to whether to spilt the tax rate or maintain a single tax rate can be reconsidered each year at the annual hearing.


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