Marlborough Sets Lower 2021 Tax Rate, But Bills Will Go Up

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Property tax rates in Marlborough will go down in 2021, but most residents will end up paying more next year due to rising property values.

The City Council on Monday approved rates of $13.80 per $1,000 for residential properties and $24.47 for commercial properties. The 2020 rates were $14.18 for residential properties and $25.22 for commercial.

The 2021 rates are the lowest dating back to at least 2012. The residential tax rate hasn't been below $14 per $1,000 since 2012.

But property values in 2019 — the year the assessments used for 2021 tax bills were captured — rose about 5.4 percent, according to the city assessor. The average assessed value of a single-family home in Marlborough rose from $383,913 in 2020 to $404,682.

That means the owner of a home of average value in Marlborough is looking at a $141 tax increase in 2021 for a total bill of $5,585 for the whole tax year.

All other property classes — condos, two and three-family homes, commercial and industrial properties — also rose in value. On the residential side, owners of three-family homes will see the biggest increase at $384 on average — the value of three-family homes jumped about 7 percent in a hot rental market.

Marlborough will also see the largest excess levy capacity dating back to 2003. The excess levy capacity is the difference between how much the city needs to levy to pay for the budget and the amount the city is allowed to levy under state law. Marlborough will have about $38 million in excess capacity in 2021.