Average Home Values on the Increase

Selectmen approved a tax rate of $14.13 per $1,000 of assessed value.

That is an increase of 50 cents per 1,000 of value over last year’s rate. Last year’s rate was $13.63 per $1,000 of value.

The average home value is now $337,700. Last year's average home value was $329,300.

The bulk of that increase reflected debt exclusion projects.

For the first time in several years, the average home value increased in 2010. The overall home values increased by 2.5 percent.

Town resident Ernest Peters urged the selectmen to give the town’s seniors a break on their tax bills.

“They made this town,’’ he said. “Some of them are living on shoestrings.’’

Town assessor Jennifer O’Neil said that various exemption programs are in place for seniors and others who are struggling financial.

Selectman John Dowling said the state prohibits communities from setting separate tax rates for seniors or other groups.

Selectman chairman Peter Adams said the way to keep taxes lower is to attend Town Meeting and spend money carefully.