Average North Andover Tax Bill To Increase $274 In FY2020

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The average single family home's tax bill will increase by around $274 in Fiscal Year 2020, after the selectmen voted for a 1.29 commercial tax shift at their meeting Monday. Residential property values increased a modest amount, with the median single family home being valued at $553,731. Under the 1.29 commercial tax shift, commercial property owners will pay 129% of what they would if there was a uniform rate.

Residential homes will be taxed at a rate of 13.89 mills, up from 13.41 in Fiscal Year 2019. The uniform rate would have been 14.53. The median tax bill will be around $7719.10.

The town manager and town account suggested the 1.29 shift to maintain the current mix of residential versus commercial tax burdens; residential owners pay about 83 percent. Commercial property values increased more than residential ones, about 4.6 percent versus just 1.3, so the shift was reduced, from 1.36 in fiscal year 2019.

Selectman Phil Decologero underscored that the selectmen do not set the budget or the total tax levy; those are determined by the town meeting.

"[This determines] what part of our budget that they already approved is going to be shouldered by businesses, and what part of our budget is going to be shouldered by residents," Decologero said.

The board also heard from the town manager and accountant on the five year capital improvement plan and fiscal forecast. The capital improvement plan, which Town Manager Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues said is likely to change, includes 19 projects, costing $6,516,069 in Fiscal Year 2021.

"We're planning to use mostly free cash," Murphy-Rodrigues said. "We're advising against using debt this year. The facilities master plan will require debt in future years."

The five year forecast projects revenue increasing from $101 million in the current fiscal year to $118 million in Fiscaly Year 2025.

Murphy-Rodrigues also gave a brief update on Columbia Gas. The company is working on repressurizing, after the September gas leak in Lawrence, but remains under a moratorium for non-emergency and restoration work.

The board also dealt with a number of liquor license. As usual, China Blossom was granted an extended license for New Year's Eve, until 2 a.m. Town Mart added an additional owner to its license. And all licenses up for annual renewals were granted, with small changes for some. Neighbors of the Stevens-Coolidge Estate have frequently spoken before the board about their dissatisfaction with the estate's events, recently; the estate only got a one-month renewal for its entertainment license.

The consent agenda was approved quickly, including Rabbi Asher Bronstein's request for use of the Town Common for menorah lighting Thursday from 5 to 5:30 p.m. The menorah will be on display on the Common through the end of the year.

The full meeting video is available through North Andover GovCAM.

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