SOUTHWICK – The Select Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday at 6:20 p.m. at the Southwick Town Hall for the purpose of discussing the town’s tax rate. Required by state law to be held annually, the hearing will feature both the Select Board and the Board of Assessors.
Southwick Town Hall. (WNG File Photo)
For Fiscal Year 2018, the town of Southwick has a single tax rate of $17.73 for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
The public hearing will give both boards the opportunity to either stick with a single tax rate for FY 19, or go to a dual tax rate, which would allow the town to have different tax rates for residential, and commercial and industrial use. Any resident or business owner in attendance will have the opportunity to offer input.
Select Board Vice-Chairman Russ Fox doesn’t see a dual tax rate as a viable option for Southwick as the town has always had a single tax rate.
“There’s so little business and industry compared to residential, it wouldn’t be feasible to do it,” said Fox.
According to the Southwick Economic Development Commission, the U.S. Census Bureau reported in July of 2017 that the population in Southwick was 9,758 people. The EDC acknowledges that there are over 400 businesses in town.
Fox also points out that towns that are similar to Southwick also have a singular tax rate.
“In most small communities this is the normal,” said Fox. “We’re trying to encourage more businesses and industries to Southwick to help our growth, so we can keep the tax rate manageable.”
If any taxpayers in town are interested in giving their opinion prior to the public hearing on Tuesday, they can present oral or written information to [email protected].
