NORTH ATTLEBORO - When residents approved a Proposition 2 1/2 override in 2018 selectmen kept a promise they made to adopt a dual tax rate. Although selectmen are now part of town history, the town council is maintaining that promise.
Councilors by a 8-0 vote (Jo Anne Cathcart was absent) approved a dual rate that will continue a shift of 18 percent of the tax burden from homeowners to businesses for the new year that starts on January 1.
The residential tax rate is estimated at $14.28 per $1,000 of property value, a decrease of seven cents over last year. Homeowners will still pay more, however, as values of homes across the state have soared over the past year.
The commercial tax rate will be $17.42, down from $17.56 this year.
A "small commercial exemption" to provide relief to small business owners with fewer than 10 employees and property taxes less than $1 million waas approved by a 7-1 vote (Darius Gregory was the lone no).
Click below to stream a portion of the council's discussion on the tax rate and their vote.
