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December Tax Bills Confuse Some Property Owners

Recently, Barrington residents received their December tax bills. Changes in property valuations along with changes in tax rates left some Barrington residents scratching their heads.  “We printed a yellow flyer which was mailed along with the tax bill to help clear up confusion,” says Conner MacIver, Barrington’s Town Administrator. “It can be difficult enough to explain the tax rate. This year, with the property revaluation, it was a little more confusing for people.”

A property revaluation for the town of Barrington is required by state law every five years. The revaluation completed this year resulted in an average increase of 12% in Barrington property values. This brings Barrington properties in line with its current market value. As the value of town properties goes up, the tax rate per $1000 of value decreases. As a result of the revaluation, the tax rate for the town of Barrington dropped - from $24.78 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $22.67. 

Some residents, active on the Barrington Connections Facebook page, have complained about tax rates increasing this year by 12% or more. According to Matt Towne, one of Barrington’s State Representatives, the revaluation hit some harder than others.  “Unfortunately, starter homes, modular and mobile home values went up a lot so their taxes went up pretty dramatically,” Towne says, noting that these are the people who can least afford the higher taxes. “Then people get irritated and irate and take that out on the school or the library, which puts pressure on them to cut programs and salaries, which means higher turnover. It’s a vicious circle.”

Towne has talked to a lot of residents about an alternative: a broad-based tax that would help take the burden of school funding off those who can least afford it. “Funding schools with property taxes is a really outdated way of doing it. That’s why none of the other 49 states do it this way,” Towne points out.  “We need to change the model.”

Towne supports a statewide income tax.  He explains that he doesn’t want to see taxes increase, but instead to see the tax burden shift to those who are more able to pay. “When I canvassed last year, I’d say 30% of the people I talked to believed that we need a broad-based tax.” Towne is hopeful that a new governor will be elected in 2020 who will be willing to work for this change. He notes that one candidate, Andru Volinsky, has refused to take the pledge which has become an NH tradition -  to not pass a state sales or income tax.

Residents can determine exactly how much taxes have increased for their own property by comparing their Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 tax bills. The bills include both the total property tax for the year and the assessed value of their property. Comparing the two bills allows residents to review their property value before and after the revaluation.

Barrington property owners who believe their property valuation is not accurate can apply to have their assessment reconsidered. An application is available online or at the Town Hall. 

Below is one example which compares last year’s Barrington tax rates to this year’s, based on a property value of $250,000:

Fall 2018  Property Value = $250,000 x $24.78/thousand tax rate = $6195 total tax for 2018

Fall 2019 Property Value = $280,000 x 22.67/thousand tax rate = $6347 total tax for 2019

Total Tax Increase: 2.4% or $152.60

“The Select Board and Town Department heads have been working hard to control costs,” Town Administrator Conner MacIver notes. “This year, the town warrant articles had no additional tax impact.” This means that there was no increase in taxes from the town budget.

“The town portion of the tax rate has actually gone down in recent years. In 2014, 20% of the Barrington tax rate went to town services. Now the town portion – including the police department, fire department, town offices - is just 16%,” explains MacIver.

The school experienced a 1.98% increase in its budget, according to Barrington School District Superintendent Daniel Moulis. “If you look at the default budget, the increase would have been 1.27% for that,” Moulis notes that the school district has fixed costs that must be included in the budget each year. Examples of fixed costs include high school tuition, staff contracts that have been previously approved by voters, and transportation (bussing) costs.

Conner MacIver also notes that warrant articles passed in March doesn’t affect the tax rate until the fall billing. “There are several months between the time town residents vote for school and town budgets and the time that the changes are seen in tax bills,” MacIver says.

In addition to an increase in school costs, the County portion of the tax rate increased this year. The budget for the county is set by the Strafford County Commissioners, who are elected by voters. The Commissioners conduct public budget hearings as part of the process so that local residents can be informed about budget decisions at the county level.

Looking ahead to March 2020, what can voters expect?  “We’re currently going through the budget process with the School Board and Advisory Budget Committee,” School Superintendent Moulis explains. “Our preliminary budget proposal includes a new preschool teacher and a new transportation contract.”

A warrant article for a new Barrington Public Library and Community Center will also be on the ballot this coming March.  “They have been before the Select Board several times,” MacIver says, noting that the Select Board has been diligent in getting answers to citizen questions about the new building. “It will increase the tax rate for the entire term of the bond,” MacIver explains. “It’s important for voters to make those decisions.”