Essex County property tax rates for 2016
Essex County property tax rates for 2016 have been announced. Here is a map (so that you can compare tax rates in neighboring towns) and the changes over the last two years, followed by my comments:
Mass. Dept of Revenue
How property tax rates are calculated
I wrote How your property taxes are calculated earlier this year.
There are two main points to understand:
The dollar amount raised by property taxes is based on a simple formula: the dollar levy for the previous year plus 2 1/2% (Prop 2 1/2), plus any new growth (e.g. new construction), plus any voter-approved overrides or debt exclusions.
The tax rate is then calculated by dividing the dollar amount by the Assessed Value of all property. For FY2016 (July 2015-June 2016) Assessed Values are based upon sales during 2014.
Thus, the dollar amount will always increase from year to year, but the tax rate depends upon what happens to Assessed Values (AV). Here are examples. All assume a 4% increase in the dollar amount to be raised from taxes.The variable is the change in the AV. In the years when AVs were declining, tax rates rose. As AVs are now increasing we should expect to see tax rates flat to down.
Tax rate changes in 2016
Of the 34 cities and towns in Essex County, 14 have announced decreases in their tax rate while 20 have had increases approved.The median change was an increase of just 0.2%.
Of the decreases 7 were 1% or less, while the largest decrease was the 6.8% in West Newbury.
While there were more increases, 9 were 1% or less. The largest increase by far was the 9.9% in Ipswich.
Outlook for 2017
With one week left in the year it seems the median price of a Single Family Home in Essex County will increase about 3.5% in 2015, and it is 2015 sales which will be used in calculating FY2017 tax rates. Since the dollar amount to be raised from property taxes will naturally continue to increase, at this stage it seems reasonable to expect little overall change in tax rates for FY2017, but there will, as always, be fluctuations from town to town.
I am publishing below a downloadable spreadsheet showing tax rates by city and town for the last 5 years.
Essex County Residential tax rates_2012_16_
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 617.834.8205 or [email protected].
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Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
You can REGISTER to receive email alerts of new posts on the right hand side of the home page at www.OliverReports.com.
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Marblehead’s 2016 property tax rate
The Board of Selectmen has approved a FY2016 rate of $11.10, up 2 cts from FY 2015. The average SFH tax bill will increase 4% to $7,973 based upon an average assessment of $718,342.
Note that the median SFH assessment for FY16, based on 2014 sales, is $545,000, (up 5.6% from 2015, which was based on 2013 sales.) This compares with a median SFH sales price in 2014 of $590,000. Only a small percentage of houses sell each year but this is quite a large difference and suggests that the median assessment will increase quite sharply next year.
This is the calculation for FY16:
Last February in How your property taxes are calculated I forecast a FY 2016 tax rate of $10.65, so why was I so far out?
Based upon the 10% increase in the median price of SFHs sold in 2014 (the year which is the basis for the FY2016 tax rate) I estimated an overall increase of 8% in Assessed Values. In reality, the increase used by the Assessor was 3.7%. The Assessor, of course, uses data for all the SFHs in Marblehead, not just the 3-4% which sell each year.
The next table shows what the tax rate would have been at different levels of increases in assessed values:
Note that the cost of debt exclusions continues to rise. Debt exclusions are included in the announced property tax rate:
The property tax rate will become official when it is approved by the Department of Revenue.
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 617.834.8205 or [email protected]. (more…)
Impact of overrides on Marblehead’s tax rate
By a vote of nearly 3 to 1 this week, Marblehead voters authorized an additional $8 million for the landfill capping and transfer station projects.
What does this mean for Marblehead’s tax rate? (more…)
How your Property Taxes are calculated
This is a repost of the article originally published on February 1st.
Third quarter property taxes are due today. This topic interests us all and yet it is probably the least understood aspect of owning real estate. This article will attempt to explain how property taxes are calculated. I will also make an estimate for the tax rate for Marblehead for FY2016.
Let’s get started.
Tax year
The fiscal year (FY) runs from July 1 to June 30. Thus we are currently in FY2015.
What sales are used as the basis for assessments?
Assessments for the FY2015 are based upon values as of January 1, 2014, using data from calendar year 2013 sales.
It is crucial to understand this time lag. Sales occurring in 2014 will be the basis for FY2016 assessments to be announced in late 2015.
How much can taxes increase each year?
Asking this suggests you are familiar with Proposition 2 1/2, which limits the $ amount that can be raised from property taxes to a 2 1/2% increase from the prior year plus any new growth in the tax base such as new construction. Note that Prop 2 1/2 does not apply to debt exclusions or general overrides. And note also that this limit applies to the overall taxes collected, not to individual tax bills.
Click here for a brief explanation of Prop 2 1/2 on the Marblehead Town website.
Now let’s show how Marblehead’s FY2015 tax rate was calculated. Here’s a table:
The starting point is the amount of the levy for the prior year, i.e. FY2014, of $52.46 million. To this is added the allowed 2 1/2% increase and also new growth, taking the total to $54.1 million. Now add on debt exclusions of $4.9 million bringing the total levy for FY2015 to just over $59 million.
For FY2015 the total assessed value of all property – residential, commercial and personal – is $5.3 billion. Divide the tax levy, $59 million, by this $5.3 billion, and the result is a tax rate of $11.08 (per $thousand).
FY2016 Tax Rate estimate
In January this year the Town Administrator presented the FY2016 Financial Outlook to the Board of Selectmen, containing projections for the tax levy for FY2016 as follows:
Now we know how much tax needs to be raised. The tax rate will be calculated by dividing this number by the Assessed Value of all real estate for FY2016, i.e. based upon sales that occurred during calendar year 2014. In 2014 the median price of a SFH in Marblehead increased by 10% while condo prices were stable. I am going to go with an 8% increase in Assessed Values to $5.75 billion.
This will give a FY2016 tax rate of …….. $10.65 vs the FY2015 rate of $11.08. The only other factor would be any additional debt exclusions approved by voters.
Bear in mind that the tax rate will depend upon the actual Assessed Values for FY2016 and these may well differ from my estimate, but I feel that $10.65 is a reasonable number at this stage. [Note: the actual increase in Assessed Values was only 4% to $5.53 billion, so the tax rate was $11.10: $61.3 billion divided by $5.53 billion. This demonstrates that the top line – the amount to be raised by property taxes – is much easier to predict than the denominator, Assessed Values, which in turn have a great impact on the tax rate.]
Are overrides included in the tax rate?
In asking this question of several people I discovered that most assumed that debt exclusions and general overrides were a separate item. They are not. They are included in the tax rate that is announced each year. Here is the breakdown of the tax rate for the last three years with my estimate for FY2016:
What is the difference between a debt exclusion and general override?
Here are some quotes from the MA Department of revenue website:
“An override is a voted increase in the levy limit. The amount of the override becomes a permanent part of the levy limit base.The budgets adopted by town meetings in Massachusetts are affected by the Proposition 2 1⁄2 limitations upon local property tax levies. So-called overrides of these tax limitations,which allow for additional taxing capacity to fund the budget, may only be approved by a general referendum vote of all town residents.”
“A debt exclusion creates a temporary increase in the levy limit to fund the payment of debt service costs for capital projects funded by borrowing. The additional amount for the debt service is added to the levy limit for the life of the debt.”
Thus an override to fund an operating deficit becomes part of the permanent tax levy and increases occur each year from this higher base.
A debt service exclusion is temporary and disappears when the specific debt is repaid.
Marblehead’s FY2016 Financial Outlook stated: ” there is no need to consider any permanent overrides to fund the town’s operating budget. This has been the case now for 10 years.”
What does Marblehead’s debt exclusion cover?
By far the largest proportion (72%) of the FY2015 exclusion of $4.9 million relates to school costs at MHS, Village and Glover. Next at 17% is the Causeway Seawall. The balance of 11% comes from a variety of sources including the new fire truck, Lead Mills, Stoney Brook clean up, and the Landfill/Transfer Station work.
What effect would general overrides have on the tax rate?
Marblehead’s annual budget is around $70 million (property taxes contribute about three-quarters of the total revenue raised). What if MHD had a budget shortfall and asked residents to vote for a $1 million override? The next table shows the impact if this were to happen for three years in a row:
While it is highly unlikely to impossible that this would happen in Marblehead for a number of reasons, you can see the impact sustained deficits could have on a town’s tax rate.
Conclusion
Low tax rates don’t just happen: they are the result of wise and prudent financial management by a town and a concerned and involved citizenry. In Marblehead we have both.
GO PATS !!!!!!!!!
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 617.834.8205 or [email protected].
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
You can REGISTER to receive email alerts of new posts on the right hand side of the home page at www.OliverReports.com.
@OliverReports
How Your Property Taxes are calculated
Third quarter property taxes are due today. This topic interests us all and yet it is probably the least understood aspect of owning real estate. This article will attempt to explain how property taxes are calculated. I will also make an estimate for the tax rate for Marblehead for FY2016.
Let’s get started.
Tax year
The fiscal year (FY) runs from July 1 to June 30. Thus we are currently in FY2015.
What sales are used as the basis for assessments?
Assessments for the FY2015 are based upon values as of January 1, 2014, using data from calendar year 2013 sales.
It is crucial to understand this time lag. Sales occurring in 2014 will be the basis for FY2016 assessments to be announced in late 2015.
How much can taxes increase each year?
Asking this suggests you are familiar with Proposition 2 1/2, which limits the $ amount that can be raised from property taxes to a 2 1/2% increase from the prior year plus any new growth in the tax base such as new construction. Note that Prop 2 1/2 does not apply to debt exclusions or general overrides. And note also that this limit applies to the overall taxes collected, not to individual tax bills.
Click here for a brief explanation of Prop 2 1/2 on the Marblehead Town website.
Now let’s show how Marblehead’s FY2015 tax rate was calculated. Here’s a table:
Source: Board of Assessors
The starting point is the amount of the levy for the prior year, i.e. FY2014, of $52.46 million. To this is added the allowed 2 1/2% increase and also new growth, taking the total to $54.1 million. Now add on debt exclusions of $4.9 million bringing the total levy for FY2015 to just over $59 million.
For FY2015 the total assessed value of all property – residential, commercial and personal – is $5.3 billion. Divide the tax levy, $59 million, by this $5.3 billion, and the result is a tax rate of $11.08 (per $thousand).
FY2016 Tax Rate estimate
In January this year the Town Administrator presented the FY2016 Financial Outlook to the Board of Selectmen (see AAA Marblehead). This contained projections for the tax levy for FY2016 as follows:
Source: Town of Marblehead
Now we know how much tax needs to be raised. The tax rate will be calculated by dividing this number by the Assessed Value of all real estate for FY2016, i.e. based upon sales that occurred during calendar year 2014. In 2014 the median price of a SFH in Marblehead increased by 10% while condo prices were stable. I am going to go with an 8% increase in Assessed Values to $5.75 billion.
This will give a FY2016 tax rate of …….. $10.65 vs the FY2015 rate of $11.08.The only other factor would be any additional debt exclusions approved by voters.
Bear in mind that the tax rate will depend upon the actual Assessed Values for FY2016 and these may well differ from my estimate, but I feel that $10.65 is a reasonable number at this stage.
Are overrides included in the tax rate?
In asking this question of several people I discovered that most assumed that debt exclusions and general overrides were a separate item. They are not. They are included in the tax rate that is announced each year. Here is the breakdown of the tax rate for the last three years with my estimate for FY2016:
Source: Board of Assessors, Oliver Reports
What is the difference between a debt exclusion and general override?
Here are some quotes from the MA Department of revenue website:
“An override is a voted increase in the levy limit. The amount of the override becomes a permanent part of the levy limit base.The budgets adopted by town meetings in Massachusetts are affected by the Proposition 2 1⁄2 limitations upon local property tax levies. So-called overrides of these tax limitations,which allow for additional taxing capacity to fund the budget, may only be approved by a general referendum vote of all town residents.”
“A debt exclusion creates a temporary increase in the levy limit to fund the payment of debt service costs for capital projects funded by borrowing. The additional amount for the debt service is added to the levy limit for the life of the debt.”
Thus an override to fund an operating deficit becomes part of the permanent tax levy and increases occur each year from this higher base.
A debt service exclusion is temporary and disappears when the specific debt is repaid.
Marblehead’s FY2016 Financial Outlook stated: ” there is no need to consider any permanent overrides to fund the town’s operating budget. This has been the case now for 10 years.”
What does Marblehead’s debt exclusion cover?
By far the largest proportion (72%) of the FY2015 exclusion of $4.9 million relates to school costs at MHS, Village and Glover. Next at 17% is the Causeway Seawall. The balance of 11% comes from a variety of sources including the new fire truck, Lead Mills, Stoney Brook clean up, and the Landfill/Transfer Station work.
What effect would general overrides have on the tax rate?
Marblehead’s annual budget is around $70 million (property taxes contribute about three-quarters of the total revenue raised). What if MHD had a budget shortfall and asked residents to vote for a $1 million override? The next table shows the impact if this were to happen for three years in a row:
Source: Assessors Office, Oliver Reports
While it is highly unlikely to impossible that this would happen in Marblehead for a number of reasons, you can see the impact sustained deficits could have on a town’s tax rate.
Conclusion
Low tax rates don’t just happen: they are the result of wise and prudent financial management by a town and a concerned and involved citizenry. In Marblehead we have both.
GO PATS !!!!!!!!!
If you – or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 617.834.8205 or [email protected].
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby’s International Realty Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
You can REGISTER to receive email alerts of new posts on the right hand side of the home page at www.OliverReports.com.
@OliverReports
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