The Select Board voted unanimously to adopt a factor of 1, or 100%, to tax all properties in town at the same rate for fiscal year 2023 at a meeting on Monday.
Town Assessor Karen Bertolino joined the group at the table while Board member Moses Grader served as chair in the absence of Erin Noonan. Bertolino noted how more than 95% of property in the town is residential, while the remaining 4.61% makes up the entirety of commercial, industrial, and personal property combined.
She provided statistics showing that the valuation of commercial, industrial, and personal property will naturally increase over time in contrast with residences.
“I think the way you’ve laid out the presentation makes it very self-explanatory why we do not impose a marginal burden on the businesses,” Grader said. “Because their tax rate kind of goes up logarithmically.”
Grader added that the town has historically voted not to change the ratio to anything besides 1.
The board also voted unanimously against the implementation of a residential exemption, commercial exemption, and open-space discount. The residential exemption allows the board to grant an exemption up to 20% of the average assessed value of all Class 1 residential parcels.
“Historically, Marblehead has never elected to vote for the residential exemption,” Bertolino explained.
The small commercial exemption would have allowed for an exemption of up to 10% of the assessed value of commercial properties with an assessment of less than $1,000,000 and employing 10 or fewer people in the preceding year. The open-space discount would have allowed for an exemption of up to 25% on property qualifying as open space.
“Open space is land which is not otherwise classified and which is not taxable under the provisions of chapters 61, 61A, or 61B or taxable under a permanent conservation restriction in which land is not held for the production of income but is maintained in an open and natural condition and which contributes significantly to the benefit enjoyment of the general public,” Bertolino said.
Bertolino disclosed that the Board of Assessors concluded that no property in town meets that definition.