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Politics & Government

Taxes to Go Down Slightly in Mansfield

Taxes will be lowering in Mansfield due to a surplus this year.

A cash surplus is rare these days in any community, but Mansfield selectmen were presented with just that Wednesday. As a result, town residents and commercial property owners will actually see their tax bills for the coming year reduced.

The board was charged with the yearly task of determining what percentage of property taxes will be paid by residents and commercial/industrial properties, and assessors announced the windfall in so-called "new growth" before the discussion.

The new growth figure in this case reflects a hike in the acquisition of personal property on the commercial and industrial side, particularly from the growth and expansion of large industrial park tenants like medical equipment giant Covidien.

Against the wishes of board member Kevin Moran, selectmen decided not to save out the unanticipated $600,000 to use for capital projects, but chose to plow it back into the anticipated budget so that the taxes would be reduced across the board.

Moran said he thought projects like the new DPW and emergency services building, and the deteriorating Memorial Hall, deserved immediate cash support. He also said the town's reserve account is dangerously slim, a fact that was recently pointed out by University of Massachusetts consultant John Mullin, who has been hired to produce a strategic plan for the town.

"There is no such thing as found money," said Moran. "We could address some of these needs. I would love to pay less in taxes, but I'm looking at the long term - there is never a good time to do anything. Treading water is losing ground."

But he was outnumbered. "We need to look at any way we can to give the residents a break - even if it's three dollars a year," said board chairman Jess Aptowitz.

The board also voted 3-1, with Jess Aptowitz opposing, to change the commercial/industrial tax split from a rate of 1.22 to 1.21, easing the burden on business and industry by a small amount.

Residents will pay $14.29 per thousand at the 1.21 split, and owners of an average home worth about $439,500 will see about a $9 reduction.

A commercial property valued at $2,833,000 will see a tax reduction of about $660.00.

"This sends a sign to businesses that we do support them," said member Doug Annino.

"Residents will still pay less than they did last year, just not as much less," commented Olivier Kozlowski, who suggested the change to 1.21.

The town has $3,079,421,780 in taxable property, and about $2.4 billion of that number is residential.

Board member George Dentino was not present. He is recovering from surgery.

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