As cities and towns prepare to send out their tax bills, Selectboards and boards of assessors have been meeting to set the tax rates for fiscal year 2026.
In Charlemont and Shelburne, tax rates are set to decrease from fiscal year 2025, while in Ashfield and Heath, the tax rate will increase. However, in all four towns, the average tax bill will be higher, with property values on the rise.
Ashfield
With a slight increase to the tax rate and a minimal rise in property values, Ashfield residents can expect their tax bills to be higher for FY26. The tax rate has been set at $14.23 per $1,000 valuation, up from last year’s $13.46.
The increased tax rate is paired with a 0.03% average increase in property values. For FY26, the average value for a single-family home in Ashfield is $387,740.
The average tax bill for a single-family home is estimated to be $5,518, an increase of $301 from last year.
Charlemont
While the tax rate is set to decrease for FY26, Charlemont residents can expect slightly higher tax bills due to increases in property values. The average tax bill for a single-family home is estimated at $4,976, up $78 from last year.
The Charlemont Selectboard voted unanimously to accept the Board of Assessors’ recommendation to set a single tax rate for all residential, commercial, industrial, open space and personal property at a rate of $16.81 per $1,000 valuation.
Assessors Clerk Carlene Hayden said the rate is $1.49 less than last year’s tax rate. Due to increasing property values, the town can lower the tax rate and still reach the same amount of tax revenue.
“It’s driven by sales, and sales are up,” Hayden told the Selectboard. “When values go up, the tax rate goes down.”
Shelburne
Shelburne residents can expect a tax rate of $12.79 per $1,000 valuation for FY26. While the rate is 5 cents less than last year’s rate, taxpayers can expect higher bills due to increases in property values and the town budget.
The average tax bill for a single-family home in Shelburne for FY26 is estimated to be $5,149, representing a $634 increase.
Assistant Assessor Karen Tonelli told the Selectboard on Monday the average property value had risen significantly, from approximately $351,000 last year to $400,000 this year.
She added that while property values play a role in the tax rate, the largest driver of tax rate increases is voter-approved increases to the town budget. For FY26, voters approved increasing the budget by 9.3% to $6.25 million.
“On average, we’re seeing $634 increases in taxes,” Tonelli said. “I just want to make the point that while we’re seeing some astronomical increases in value, really what hits the tax rate are decisions being made at Town Meeting.”
Heath
The town of Heath has set its tax rate at $19.39 per $1,000 valuation, up 3% from FY25.
Heath residents are also seeing higher property values this year, which will result in higher tax bills. The average single-family home in Heath was valued at $261,296, which is an increase of approximately $18,000 from the average home value for FY25.
The average tax bill for a single-family home in Heath is estimated to be $5,067. This is a 10.7% or $491 increase from the average bill for FY25.