SOUTHWICK – The town will keep its single tax classification following a vote of the Board of Selectmen last night.
The Board of Assessors recommended keeping a classification of one rather than splitting the rate between residents and businesses.
“We want to keep business in town,” said Board of Assessors Chairman David Recoulle, adding that 89 percent of the town’s taxpayers are residents, with just 11 percent comprised of commercial and industrial taxpayers.
The assessors told selectmen that shifting the rate, even to the maximum allowed, would not significantly reduce residential taxes. However, they said, it would greatly increase taxes to a business.
The assessors cited the example of a $240,000 residential property, which is currently taxed at just over $4,100. By shifting the rate to the maximum allowed, there would only be a $250 savings. That same shift on a $360,000 commercial or industrial property would jump from a $6,300 tax to a $9,500 tax.
Resident Jack Sinico spoke in favor of the single rate recommendation.
“I think you have to keep it at one,” Sinico said of the tax factor. “Otherwise you put too much on businesses.”
Selectwoman Tracy Cesan thanked the Board of Assessors for clearing up questions she had prior to the hearing. However, she asked them to consider bringing the classification question to Town Meeting.
“In the future I’d like to consider this for Town Meeting,” said Cesan. “We’ve got to start thinking of the needs of our citizens because they do pay 80 percent of the taxes.”
Cesan said she wants “the needs of the residents recognized” and noted that Agawam, Westfield, West Springfield and Springfield have a split tax classification.
Selectman Joseph Deedy said there is a big difference between the communities Cesan cited and Southwick – mainly the size of the population and the number of commercial and industrial taxpayers.
Economic Development Director Michael McMahon asked the board what the actual rate was. Selectman Chairman Russell Fox said the rate was not set yet.
Fox tried to clarify what the assessors said during the meeting.
“I think what they are saying is we don’t have enough businesses to go up,” said Fox.
The board then approved keeping a single tax classification.
