Principal Assessor David Burgess
Principal Assessor David Burgess made his scintillating annual appearance before the illustrious Select Board to set the tax rate for the coming year, which is already too high and will only go higher, from $20.54 up to $21.22 per thousand.
Also as usual the SB decided not to "split" the tax rate and charge commercial property more in order to save homeowners a small amount.
For instance if the board had decided for the maximum shift allowed the tax rate for homes would drop to $20.01 (pretty much the same ridiculous rate we pay now) and commercial would skyrocket to $31.83.
Or put in more simple terms the average taxbill for an average home would go from $6,842 down to "only" $6,456 while the average commercial bill would go from $7,627 up to $11,148. Ouch!
These out of whack numbers clearly underscore a major problem: Amherst is overly reliant on residential property, a whopping 90% of the tax base.
The good news is recent development has spurred annual "new growth" which Mr. Burgess projects around $750,000 for the upcoming fiscal year mainly due to Olympia Oaks and Kendrick Place coming on line.
And since rents are continuing to rise in Amherst he told the Select Board large apartment complexes will "take a hit" after his next reevaluation. With dwelling structures of 4 units or greater the assessor uses a formula that considers net operating profits so the higher the profits the higher the valuation the higher the tax burden.
Too bad he could not use that same formula with smaller (less than 4) housing units as slumlords could then be assessed based on their cash flow rather than the crappy condition of their units -- which leads to lower assessments and maximum profits.
Phillips Street, the slummiest street in Amherst, has only 1 owner occupied home
14 comments:
Taxes for rental properties in many cases should be lower not higher. In most of these rental properties that have less than 4 units they have no children in the schools. Only a few are slums. Most are just good neighbors and are in fine condition.
how can they increase by more than 2.5%?
When do residentail taxes come down due to increased development? Wasn't that the promise?
Too much bitching by old men, who will require many services. You want a promise? Your meals on wheels will get there by noon.
What are other town tax rates compared to Amherst? Such as Northhampton or Hadley?
When Dunkin' opens a branch in Hell and starts serving Coolattas.
It is great that the town is willing to increase taxes given that the citizens of the town have endless desires for more town provided stuff. There really is no other way aside from buying your own stuff right.
Something that could help is a simple $500 premium per kid in the school system. Just a little something to have those costing the town the most pay just a little bit more. That is still over a 95% discount on the cost the community pays for the child.
This could really help the elderly, the young adults, the childless and businesses (who make real jobs) afford to stay in the community vs. having to become poor to pay for someone else's decision or mistake. At some point we have to consider stopping the sacrifice of everything for a poor quality, overpriced educational welfare for the wealthy.
Taxes will come down when we institute either a representative government or bring back liberty/ownership - both of which are less than popular in Amherst. Like Larry said, with those currently in power and the current citizens, when Hell freezes over. To be clear, that is an insult.
& just think of the town property taxes if/when all the proposed tax overrides pass, for the elementary schools, for the library, the new fire station & more. The school administrators are hoping to bring their override to the voters concurrent with the Presidential election in Nov.
Um, that's not how public schools are funded. it's not fee for service.
+1 representative government (or open town meeting held at the Mullins Center).
And take some land out of conservation restriction, offer it for development, and collect the rent.
Ageism once again rears its ugly head here .
Uglyism once again asserted by old person.
Ageist. So much for celebrating diversity. Oh I forgot, in Amherst, that means skin color.
Just another nail in my "For Sale" sign! I'm not going to complain about it, I'm just moving out as fast as I can!
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