Assessor Department

Massachusetts's law requires assessors to value all real and personal property within their community. They value every property, from single-family residences to the large commercial and industrial enterprises. Valuation in Massachusetts is based on "full and fair cash value," the amount a willing buyer would pay a willing seller on the open market. Properties such as churches and educational institutions are also valued even though they are exempt from taxation. The FY 2007 tax rates were $12.11 for residential and $20.11 for commercial-industrial-personal personal.

The Board of Selectmen held the annual property tax classification hearing on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 7:30 PM. The purpose of the hearing, held pursuant to MGL C.40,s.56, was to determine the allocation of the local property tax levy among the five property classes for Fiscal Year 2008. The Board of Assessors provided the following information regarding the various policy decisions available:  Presentation1   Presentation 2   Presentation 3  10-year Res cf. CIP. Following the Assessors' presentation, the Board of Selectmen voted to adopt Option No. 5, to establish the residential factor at 0.9060, producing similar percentage increases for the average residential and commercial tax bills.