Selectmen to Vote on Property Tax Rate Monday Night
The Andover Board of Selectmen will vote on a shift in the property tax between the residential and commercial tax rates.
It's that time of year again. The state will be once again setting the new property tax rate for the Andover taxpayers, with the rate changing mostly due to Andover's most recent annual budget and the shift that the Board of Selectmen vote on during their meeting.
On Monday, Nov. 19, the Board of Selectmen will be meeting at the town offices, third floor conference room, at 7 p.m. to discuss and vote on the property tax classification in the Town of Andover.
Residents can also watch online live with Andover Television's live web broadcasting services.
The Andover Business Center Association is urging business owners and building landlords to attend Monday night's classification hearing.
In the past ten years, for the most part, selectmen have voted on a shift in the property tax rate that places more of the burden on the commercial tax rate. This causes local businesses to assume a larger portion of the property tax burden, with the residential tax rate assuming a lower portion.
An email from the local business organization urges business owners to speak out against these shifts in the property tax rate at the meeting Monday night.
Last year, the average single family homeowner saw a $306 increase in their property tax bill after the new tax rate was set.
Jeanne FitzPatrick
11:24 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
We already pay 2,000 dollars a quarter in property taxes and our home is of Average size. Our fax bill is like having a second mortgage. We have lived here for twenty seven years and I fear we would not be Able to stay in our beloved home as we get older if taxes keep increasing. I'm sure we are not the only residents that feel this way. I am sorry I can appreciate and understAnd the burden this puts on businesses as well. But Andover is a community that patronizes local businesses frequently and they stand to make substantial income by having a business in this community. Far more so than the residents. Just a thought. Thank you. Jeanne Fitzpatrick 3 Odyssey Way Andover