Politics & Government

No Change in Winchester's Tax Classification

The Selectmen decided to maintain the current tax classification.

It has been 17 years since the town of Winchester has last changed the tax classification.

That streak continues as the voted unanimously to continue with the current tax levy classification.

"The board is against classifying," said Stephen Powers, chair of the Board of Assessors. "We're 94 percent residential and if we change it we would hurt business if we do it. Public get a very small benefit, about three centers off their bill. But that burden would be placed on the businesses and if those businesses close down because of it that would hurt the town a lot more."

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The idea of changing the tax rates would be to put a greater burden of the taxes on the commercial properties and take some off of the residential homes. However, since Winchester has little commercial property it was decided that the burden placed on businesses would be to great.

"The Chamber has done a lot better job of attracting businesses and the community looks good," Powers said.

Find out what's happening in Winchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Winchester is 94 percent residential. Other comparable towns to Winchester - Arlington, Belmont, Wellesley, Weston, Reading and Concord - all have over 90 percent residential areas and do not classify. Melrose is the only town that has a similar residential percentage (91 percent) to Winchester that does classify.

Other towns that classify have more commerical property and less residential - Lexington (78 percent residential), Stoneham (82), Wakefield (72).

Powers went on to explain that the change in tax rate would be minimal, approximately only $300,000, but businesses would feel it much more than the residential areas.

In the past, the Vice-Chair of the Board of Assessors, David Errrico, has been in favor of increasing the tax burden on the businesses, but decided against it this year.

"Because of the economy it's not a good idea to put an additional burden on the businesses," Errico said.


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