Worcester Postpones Setting 2021 Property Tax Rates

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester City Council on Tuesday night delayed a vote setting the 2021 property tax rates after multiple City Councilors requested information about the budget and revenues from the assessor and city manager.

Each year, the City Council picks a tax rate to pay for the most recently passed city budget, which came in at $721.8 million for fiscal 2021. The 2020 tax rate was set at $17 per $1,000 for single-family homeowners, and $35.16 per $1,000 for commercial owners.

At-Large Councilor Morris Bergman asked City Assessor Samuel Konieczny to report back about how the city assesses bodies of water. He also asked for a report on what it would look like if Worcester returned excess new growth — projected to be $7.3 million, $2 million more than expected — to taxpayers.

At-large Councilor Donna Colorio asked Konieczny for a report on how a 10 percent tax cut for seniors would affect the overall tax base. She asked for a similar report on a 10 percent tax incentive for owner-occupied multifamily houses.

Finally, District 3 Councilor George Russell asked for a report on any surplus revenue in the city budget.

The Council is expected to set tax rates at the Dec. 8 meeting.