SUNDERLAND — The Selectboard voted unanimously last week to set the fiscal year 2020 tax rate at $15.44 per $1,000 valuation, and it now awaits approval from the state Department of Revenue.
The Selectboard accepted the Board of Assessors’ rate recommendation, a 0.72 percent increase over the rate for fiscal year 2019, which ended June 30.
Teresa Foster, administrative assistant for the assessors, attended the Nov. 4 Selectboard meeting for a classification hearing and explained the particulars of the town’s tax base. She said the purpose of the classification hearing is to allow a shift in the tax burden between property classes. It determines the share to be carried by each class and does not change the total tax levy for the town. The classes are commercial, industrial and personal property.
Foster explained that 88.75 percent of the town’s tax base is residential, and the average residential value in fiscal year 2019 was $290,354, with an average tax bill of $4,451.33.
The taxable value of property in Sunderland went up by 3.62 percent for fiscal year 2020, and the amount to be raised from taxes increased 4.35 percent.
“Our values went up across the board,” Foster said.
She said taxes were expected to increase more, but the construction of some new homes and the NSTAR solar installation in the vicinity of Bub’s BBQ on Route 116 have resulted in an additional $20,000 in tax revenue for the town.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.