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Westborough keeps single tax rate; board rejects residential and small‑commercial exemptions
Summary
After a public hearing and presentations from the assessor, the Westborough Select Board voted unanimously to keep a single tax rate (residential factor of 1) and to decline adoption of both a residential exemption and a small commercial exemption.
The Westborough Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday to maintain a single property tax rate for fiscal 2025, rejecting both a proposed residential exemption and a small commercial exemption.
John Steinberg, finance director speaking for the board of assessors, presented certified values and levy options during the public hearing. Steinberg said the town’s FY2025 actual levy is about $100.9 million and that “we have $13,633,200 that we could have taxed but are not,” describing the town’s excess levy capacity and roughly $3.1 million in new growth. He explained how a split rate would shift a portion of the tax burden from residential to commercial, and showed numerical examples of the effects at 5%, 10%, 25% and the legal maximum 50% shift.
Public commenters included Sandra Coker, chair of the Westborough Economic Development Committee, who urged retention of a single rate to preserve business competitiveness downtown, and Wilford Savoy, a resident, who argued that shifting some levy to commercial and industrial taxpayers would ease pressures on households facing rising costs. Karen Chapman, president of the regional MetroWest chamber, also recommended keeping a single rate to support business development.
Board members raised concerns that a residential exemption and a split rate would disproportionately raise costs for apartment renters or strain town services. One member warned that lowering residential rates by shifting the levy could prompt higher rents because landlords commonly pass increased commercial property costs through to tenants.
After discussion the board member moved “to not adopt a residential exemption or small commercial exemption and to maintain a single tax rate by adopting a residential factor of 1.” The motion was seconded and passed by roll call vote 5‑0.
What happens next: The vote determined the classification outcome (the board did not adopt a split rate or the exemptions) but did not set the final tax rate itself; the state process and final calculations will produce the rate in the coming weeks. The town manager and finance staff will incorporate the board’s classification decision into the formal rate setting process and publish final numbers when they are available.
