8. HOW DOES THE ASSESSOR DETERMINE THE TAX RATE
Once the Assessors have calculated the current total valuation of property and know the amount the Town Meeting has voted to come from the levy, the Assessors prepare a document that shows how much of the value and how much of the proposed levy would come from each of the different classes of property (residential, commercial, industrial, open space, and personal property). They provide this form to the Selectmen who must then vote on whether to apply the same tax rate or separate rates to the different property classes.
Next, Assessors prepare a “recapitulation sheet” that lists all the different sources of revenue available to the Town for the next Fiscal Year. The Assessors then submit the “recap sheet” to the Department of Revenue and request certification of the tax rate. Once the rate is certified, the tax bills can be mailed.
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