Salem Mayor Proposes Slight Property Tax Increase

SALEM, MA — The average single-family homeowner in Salem would see their property tax bill increase $87.26, or 1.49 percent, under property tax rates proposed by Mayor Kim Driscoll. Salem City Council will consider the tax rates when it meets Thursday. In a letter outlining the proposed rates to council, Driscoll said the increase is the lowest "in decades."

"Despite an active housing market increasing values and despite increases in fixed costs for delivering local services by around $2.7 million this fiscal year, we have managed to keep tax increases quite low," Driscoll wrote. "The reason for this is simple: growth matters. As we grow our tax base, we have been able to successfully distribute the burden of funding critical local services to more taxpayers, alleviating the burden on existing property owners."

The average condo owner would pay $160.77, or 3.71 percent, more next year, and the average three-family tax change would be $123.3, or 1.71 percent. Commercial property tax rates would go up 6.36 percent if council approves Driscoll's proposed rates.

Driscoll said the city had received just under $300,000 in the local tax on recreational cannabis sales in the first three quarters of the current fiscal year. She said the city had seen $5.9 million in new development this year. "The most powerful tool at our disposal....is responsible, sensible private development that adds to our tax base," Driscoll said.