Selectmen Raise Taxes 3% on Seekonk Businesses and Homes

Seekonk businesses and residents will notice a change in their property taxes next year after the Seekonk Board of Selectmen voted 3-2 to change the spilt tax rate factor to 1.6 from 1.58.

The raise puts a greater percentage of the tax burden on commercial properties, but is less than the maximum allowable spilt of 1.629.

Commercial property will be taxed at $24.48 per $1,000 of assessed value, and residential property will be taxed at $12.20 per $1,000.

The tax rates represent an average increase of 3.1 percent for residential property and 3.0 percent for commercial property.

The relative equality of those increases was a factor in the decision, as some selectment felt it was more fair than pursuing the maximum spilt of 1.629.

“I would like to decrease the burden on commercial, but I don’t see a way to do that,” said Bob McClintock.

Dave Parker and John Whalen both voted against the motion and were the only two selectmen to vote in favor of an earlier motion made by Whalen to use the maximum allowable split.

“It should be the maximum differential shift. As far as I’m concerned that’s the price of doing business in the community,” said Whalen, adding that in his past 10 years on the board they had always pursued the maximum spilt.

Selectmen Bill Rice voiced his opinion that the spilt rate itself is unfair and said the increase in taxes comes as a result of increased spending.

“For the future we might take this process in mind next time we approve a budget,” said Rice.

It was also shown the median value of a single-family home in Seekonk declined to $268,000 from $278,00 last year.

The selectmen also voted 4-1, Whalen opposed, to maintain the 10 percent commercial tax exemption that has been in place.