Average Burlington Tax Bill To Increase $245 In Fiscal Year 2021

BURLINGTON, MA — Burlington's average single-family home tax bill will increase $245.42 in Fiscal Year 2021, after the Board of Selectmen voted to set the tax shift Monday.

The residential tax rate will be 9.95 mills, versus 25.84 for commercial properties. Both values are slight increases over Fiscal Year 2020.

The average single family home was valued at $574,000, up from $567,000 last year. Tax bills may increase due to increasing home value, as well as the increased rate. Tax assessments are based on Jan. 1 values, so Fiscal Year 2021 assessments will not include any impact from the coronavirus.

The Board was presented with an array of potential tax shifts; their role is to determine what fraction of the tax levy goes to commercial properties. The shift factor was 1.601, meaning commercial property taxes are about 60% higher than what they would be if there was a uniform rate for residential and commercial properties.

Board members asked if the town could use free cash or stabilization funds to offset taxes, but town officials said it was probably too late to make that change.

One member, Michael Runyan, voted against the proposed tax classification.

The full meeting is available here via BCAT.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.