Tax rate

Northborough adopts single tax rate of $14.79

Tax Rate | from page 1

School Committee and appropriations and financial planning committees, town officials projected that the average singlefamily home in Northborough may face a tax increase of $565 in fiscal year 2023.

“Which is the most substantial [increase] in the last 10 plus years,” said Town Administrator John Coderre.

When the final budget was sent to Town Meeting, town staff estimated the tax impact would be about $513.

“I’m very happy to say that sitting here today that we always show you hopefully a worst-case scenario, but a few things worked out in our favor,” Coderre said.

Among them, Coderre said Northborough saw “good, healthy” new growth — which is estimated at $54.3 million — along with rising commercial and industrial property values.

“For the last couple of years what we saw was a very hot real estate market and a suppressed commercial industrial,” Coderre said. “Businesses were closed. Retail shops were closed. So, we saw a shifting of the tax burden to the residential as those values escalated.”

Now, Coderre said the town saw residential, commercial and industrial property values all increase. In total, Northborough’s property values increased from $3.38 to $3.89 billion. Specifically, residential values increased by 16%, industrial increase by 15% and commercial increase by 10%.

“Because of that, you didn’t see as big of a shift over onto the residential,” Coderre said.

Additionally, the town received an increase in its state aid, and Algonquin Regional High School received additional aid that resulted in a decrease to Northborough’s assessment, resulting in an average tax bill of $380.

Single tax rate

During the meeting, Assessors Paul Cibelli and Christopher Reidy presented the tax rate options — including adopting a split tax rate — and small commercial and residential exemptions.

A split tax rate would have shifted the tax burden from residential to commercial, industrial and personal property classes. For example, a five percent shift would lower the residential property rate to $14.53 and result in a savings of $151 for the average single-family taxpayer. It would in turn increase the tax rate for commercial and industrial properties to $15.53, leading to an increase of $1,320 increase in the average commercial tax bill and $3,701 in the average industrial tax bill.

“Any shift amount does not raise any additional revenues,” Cibelli said.

However, the selectmen did not voice their support for adopting a split tax rate.

Selectmen Jason Perreault said a single tax rate was the “fairest approach that we have.”

“As we’ve noted, the impact to shift a certain amount of money to produce a certain amount of savings on the residential side has a disproportionate effect on the commercial industrial side and the increase that occurs over there,” he said.

Chair Mitch Cohen said while the split tax rate works for some communities, he added, “I don’t think it would work well for Northborough.”

Cohen said the town needed new growth in regards to small businesses.

“There would certainly be illeffects of that both for the small businesses that would own the property that they would be in as well as the commercial property owners that lease out space to small business owners along our Main Street and vicinicty,” Cohen said.

Select Board votes to support library project

By Maureen Sullivan Senior Reporter WESTBOROUGH - “Vote on the project, not the process.”

This was said several times during the Select Board meeting on Nov. 22, in reference to the Westborough Public Library’s building project.

The project will be on the special Town Meeting warrant on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. at Westborough High School.

A vote to appropriate $36,698,556 for the project failed to get the needed twothirds majority during the Oct. 17 Town Meeting. Several residents objected to having another special Town Meeting on the project, saying the October vote should have been enough.

Resident Boyd Conklin called the vote a “valid and binding decision.”

“The revote undermines the town meeting form of government,” said Steve Buttiglieri.

Melanie Board of the Advisory Finance Committee, which voted against recommending the project in October, said she would prefer repairing the library over the proposed renovation project.

“Let’s repair what we have,” she said.

Westborough has received a $9.4 million grant awarded from the Mass. Library Building Commission. Library officials have said the grant would not cover the repairs, which are estimated to cost $19 million.

A recent report on interest rates also drew some comment. Should the project be approved and goes out to bid, a 4% interest rate on a 20-year plan could tack on another $11 million.

Some residents suggested that instead of a Town Meeting, the library project could go under a debt exclusion and be decided via a town-wide election.

In response, Mary Johnston of the library’s Board of Trustees said a citizens’ petition asking for a revote was legal, and that “citizens came forth, asking to look at it again.”

Select Board supports library project 3-2

Select Board members were split on supporting the library project. Shelby Marshall acknowledged that Town Meeting “needs a closer look,” but said that residents should “vote on the project, not the process.”

“If you care about it, show up,” she said.

The Select Board voted 3-2 to support the article with Marshall, Allen Edinberg and Sean Keogh in favor and Ian Johnson and Patrick Welch against.

“To me, the vote was heard,” Johnson said.

“This is a tough one,” said Welch.

After considering the project’s overall costs, including the interest, and the desire to explore other options, Welch decided against supporting the article as well.

There is a deadline of Jan. 9 to have the project accepted by the town, and if the project is declined, the grant will likely go to another library project.

Additional funds from the state are possible, but an announcement may not come until sometime in January.

Also on the warrant is an article for a zoning amendment for the library project. If the article to fund the project is turned down, this article would be passed over.

The warrant is available via the town’s website, www.town. westborough.ma.us.

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Westborough Cub Scouts offer holiday wreath sale

WESTBOROUGH - Westborough Scouts will once again be selling fresh wreaths for the holidays.

Cub Scouts from Westborough’s Pack 100 will be ringing doorbells for doorto-door sales of the wreaths now through Dec. 4. Buying your holiday wreath from the scouts will support Cub Scouts from Westborough’s Pack the pack’s activities throughout the year. 100 will be selling fresh wreaths for the holidays.

Don’t need a wreath? Consider buying one to donate, and the scouts will spread the holiday cheer to town first responders and local charities.

If you don’t find a scout at your door, they will also be selling wreaths outside of the Congregational Church on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Orders for free delivery in Westborough may also be placed online at www.pack100westborough.org.

Each 22-inch wreath is $20 and is decorated with a hand-tied bow. Orders will be delivered by Dec. 4.

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Grafton Celebrates the Holidays returns Dec. 4

GRAFTON - Grafton Celebrates the Holidays returns for its 27th year on Dec. 4 with more than 30 businesses, churches and organizations serving as “Frosty Stops,” a craft and vendor fair, a home and business decorating contest, and other holiday happenings.

The event is sponsored by Grafton Recreation.

Look for the “Frosty Stop” snow bear logos at participating locations. Many stops are perennial favorites such the Polar Express Trackless Train Rides at UniBank, photos with Santa at Homefield Credit Union and the Craft and Vendor Fair at the Municipal Center Gym.

Other stops return year after year, including Bushel ‘n Peck serving up complimentary chicken noodle soup, Pepperoni Express handing out slices to those under 12, and Perreault Nurseries with a grab-and-go craft for the kids. The Baptist Church of Grafton, 1 South St., will be hosting its annual creche display from 1 to 5 p.m. New stops this year include Pecorino Cheese Shop with cheese nibbles treats, a pancake breakfast at North Grafton Elementary School, a holiday picture to color and giveaways at Connections Physical Therapy and Gaudette Insurance Agency, which is offering

PHOTOS/CAROLINE GORDON Grafton has already put up its menorah, and staff were decorating the tree earlier this week.

custom-made cookies, a drop off for Toys for Tots and a raffle. Special holiday performances will also be taking place at the Unitarian Universalist Society with the Three Kings of Swing from noon to 3 p.m. and the UUSGU Bell Choir at 12:30 p.m., and at Apple Tree Arts from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be holiday tunes played by a small chamber ensemble.

Head to the Common at 4 p.m. to join the Grafton Girl Scouts in singing winter songs with a symbolic lighting of Grafton’s first community menorah to follow. Then as always, Santa will be making his arrival on the Common at 4:30 p.m., followed by the lighting of the common.

The Grafton Garden Club will be participating in the event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in the arts and crafts room of the Senior Center, the club will be helping kids and adults plant radish seeds in repurposed water bottles. Later in the month on Dec. 16, the Garden Club will host its Winter Party Celebration and Yankee Gift Swap at the Willard House and Clock Museum. Attendees will be able to take a tour and see the Victorian decorations and enjoy a holiday celebration.

If you want to join the gift swap, bring a wrapped gift worth approximately $10-15. Refreshments will be provided. This meeting is for Grafton Garden Club members and their invited guests only. Reservations are required by Dec. 9.

For detailed times and event descriptions and locations of Grafton Celebrates the Holidays,, visit GraftonRec.com.

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