Selectmen, assessors okay tax rate hikes

Selectmen on Tuesday night acted upon the recommendation of assessors and raised the residential and commercial property tax rates for the next fiscal year. The residential rate will increase from $11.91 to $12.30 per thousand valuation, and the commercial rate will rise from $24.23 to $24.99 per thousand.

Canton is one of only a handful of area towns to have established tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year. Canton’s new residential rate is lower than Stoughton ($15.07) and Westwood ($14.89). Its commercial rate is also lower than both towns, with Stoughton at $26.20 and Westwood at $26.55.

Assessor Chairman Bill Galvin presented three percentage scenarios to selectmen, which would have established tax rates of $12.52 and $24.23, $12.30 and $24.99, and $12.08 and $25.75. Assessors and selectmen chose the shift that paralleled last year’s rate increases.

Some statistics provided by assessors show that the average single family assessment is $465,743, which produces a tax bill of $5,728. The average single family tax bill will increase by $202 next year. There are 5,328 single family homes in Canton and 1,324 condos, with the average condo assessed at $229,161.

The largest personal property taxpayer is NStar, which pays $1.167 million in taxes. The largest real estate taxpayer is Reebok, which pays $1.013 million in taxes. The total taxable valuation of the town is $3.971 billion. In 1970, the first complete revaluation of the town produced a net value of $170 million, which Galvin said means the town has grown in value by 23 times since 1970. The next triennial revaluation of all the properties is set for fiscal year 2014.

In other news, Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr announced that the first meetings between the Napleton Co., the special consultants studying the 40-acre Plymouth Rubber property, School Committee Chairman John Bonnanzio, and Planning Board Chairman Chris Connolly and Burr have been held. Burr said preliminary plans presented by Napleton concerning the property include more than 200 housing units and some reserved for residents 55 and older. But Burr said the next critical part of the consultant’s report are environmental tests and will determine if the land can support plans for over 200 units. Burr said the environmental report is due back January 15 and said the entire consultant’s report will be thorough and may not be completed in time for the May annual town meeting.

* Burr reported that recent testing by the Water Department revealed the presence of E.coli in one sample from Well No. 9 prior to the water being treated. Samples collected after treatment did not contain any fecal contaminants. Burr said the E.coli was probably from the remnants of a dead animal. Burr added that while Canton has been experiencing such occurrences more frequently, the extent of the testing has never been so advanced and the water supply system is “just going through growing pains.” The system is disinfected with chlorine, which provides protection from bacterial contamination.

* With the passage of the Community Preservation Act on November 6, selectmen must now appoint a nine-member Community Preservation Committee to oversee the act, which takes effect in the 2014 budget year. The committee will need representatives from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Recreation Commission, Planning Board, Housing Authority, Capital Planning Committee, and Board of Selectmen. The 1 percent property tax surcharge will generate an estimated $475,000 per year for the town in addition to a yet undetermined state match. The committee will decide what projects to pursue, and each appropriation must then be approved at town meeting. As a result of the recent vote, the CPA will remain in effect for a minimum of five years.

* The 2013 annual town meeting will begin later this year per town meeting approval. The first session is Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. As a result, deadlines have changed for town meeting articles. Zoning articles are due by noon on Friday, January 11 at noon. The deadline for non-zoning articles is February 12 at noon.

* Selectmen approved a new three-year contract with the administrative employees association covering seven municipal department heads. Similar to other recently approved contracts, the contract calls for 2 percent cost of living adjustments in each of the three years. The last municipal contract to be settled is with the 80-member AFSCME union.

* Final paving on Washington Street between Sassamon Street and St. Gerard’s Church will be completed Thursday (today). Friel said there will be a police detail but no detour of traffic.

* Town Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti received a Pilgrim Award from the AMVETS of Massachusetts for outstanding efforts on behalf of veterans.

* Selectmen appointed Michael Hache as a new firefighter and paramedic.

* The Yard Waste Recycling Facility, located at the former town landfill on Pine Street, will close on November 30.

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, November 27, at 7 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Nov 15 2012. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.