BRISTOL — Tax rates for towns within the Newfound Area School District are lower this year, due in part to the return of $1,069,556 of the school district’s $1.5 million year-end unexpended fund balance as of June 30.
The Newfound Area School Board retained the remaining $438,593 to cover any unanticipated expenses that may arise.
The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration had not yet set the rate for New Hampton in its most recent posting of tax rates around the state, but the trend was clear in the remaining six towns.
Bristol’s local education tax rate fell 3.38 percent, from $9.77 per $1,000 of valuation in 2017 to $9.44 per $1,000 in 2018. That is still $1.11 or 13.33 percent higher than the 2016 rate. A vote to override the tax cap in 2017 to make repairs to the high school roof boosted the baseline budget by $800,000 at a time when the state’s adequacy funding to schools reduced total revenues. The result was a jump from $8.33 per $1,000 in 2016 to $9.77 per $1,000 in 2017.
Bristol
The total 2018 property tax rate is $21.80 per $1,000 of net assessed valuation, a drop of 33 cents (1.49 percent) from 2017 when the rate was $22.13. It remains $1.18 (5.72 percent) higher than the 2016 rate of $20.62.
A reduction in the tax rate does not necessarily mean a lower tax bill, however.
The town’s net assessed valuation is $469,466,793. Since 2016, it has increased by $1,228,690 (0.26 percent). That means that a hypothetical $200,000 home that paid $4,124 in taxes in 2016 might be valued at $200,520 today, and would have a tax bill of $4,371.34. The actual change for a $200,000 home will vary based on the type of structure, location, and other factors, including how much of the increased valuation is due to new construction in the town.
The breakdown of the tax rate shows that the municipal portion has been dropping since 2016, from $8.22 to $8.21 to $8.18 this year. The decrease can be attributed in part to the use of the town’s unassigned fund balance to offset taxation.
The county portion of the tax rate is $1.94 per $1,000, a 14 cent (7.78 percent) increase from 2017 and a 16 cent (8.99 percent) increase from 2016.
The state education tax rate is $2.24 per $1,000, 11 cents (4.68 percent) higher than in 2017 but 5 cents (2.18 percent) lower than the $2.29 rate in 2016.
Tax bills went out on Nov. 29 and are due on Dec. 31.
Alexandria
Alexandria’s 2018 tax rate, set on Oct. 23, is $22.78 per $1,000, a $2.39 (9.5 percent) decrease from the 2017 rate of $25.17. That is still $1.78 (8.48 percent) higher than the 2016 tax rate of $21.
The town’s total valuation is $197,218,893, an increase of $578,400, or 0.29 percent, since 2017, and $2,259,247 (1.13 percent) since 2016.
Using the example of a home assessed at $200,000 in 2016, which would have paid $4,200 in taxes, that home might be worth $202,260 today, with a tax bill of $4,607.48.
The municipal tax rate of $6.13 per $1,000 is down $1.03 (14.39 percent) from 2017 but is 68 cents (12.48 percent) higher than it was in 2016.
The county rate is $1.81, a 5 cent (2.84 percent) increase from 2017 and a 15 cent (9.04 percent) increase from 2016.
The state education tax rate is $2.21, down 1 cent (0.45 percent) from 2017 but 3 cents (1.38 percent) higher than in 2016.
The local education tax rate is $12.63, down $1.40 (9.98 percent) from 2017 but 92 cents (7.86 percent higher than in 2016.
Bridgewater
Bridgewater’s 2018 tax rate is $9.48 per $1,000, a 14-cent (1.46 percent) decrease from 2017, but it is 5 cents (0.53 percent) higher than in 2016.
With a net assessed valuation of $348,266,000, the town has added $2,338,400 (0.68 percent) to its tax base since 2017, and $4,306,300 (1.25 percent) since 2016. A $200,000 home would have paid $1,886 in taxes in 2016 but, with a potential valuation of $202,500 today, its 2018 tax bill would be $1,919.70.
The municipal portion of the tax rate is $3.03, a 17-cent (5.94 percent) increase from 2017, and a 38-cent (14.34 percent) increase since 2016.
The county tax rate is $1.90, a 7-cent (3.83 percent) increase since 2017 but a 3-cent (1.55 percent) decrease from the 2016 rate.
The state education tax rate is $2.20, down 25 cents (10.2 percent) from both 2016 and 2017, when the rate was $2.45.
The local education tax rate is $2.35, down 13 cents (5.24 percent) from 2017 and down 5 cents (2.08 percent) since 2016.
Danbury
The 2018 tax rate is identical to the 2017 rate in Danbury — $23.50 per $1,000. It is 50 cents (2.17 percent) higher than the 2016 rate of $23.
Danbury’s net assessed valuation is $108,925,635, a $1,327,028 (1.23 percent) increase from 2017 and a $2,186,698 (2.05 percent) increase from 2016. A home worth $200,000 and paying $4,600 in taxes in 2016 might be worth $204,100 today, with a tax bill of $4,796.35.
The municipal tax rate is $6.41, a 58-cent (9.95 percent) increase from 2017 and a 37-cent (6.13 percent) increase from 2016.
The county tax is $2.90 per $1,000, a 7-cent (2.47 percent) increase from 2017 but a 3-cent (1.02 percent) decrease from 2016.
The state education tax is $2.13 per $1,000, a 20-cent (8.58 percent) decrease from 2017 and a 43-cent (16.8 percent) decrease from 2016.
The local education tax rate is $12.06 per $1,000, down 45 cents (3.6 percent) from 2017, but 59 cents (5.14 percent) higher than in 2016.
Groton
Groton’s 2018 tax rate is $14 per $1,000, a drop of $1.64 (10.49 percent) from 2017, but a $2.30 (19.66 percent) increase from 2016.
Its net assessed valuation is $80,713,550, a one-year increase of $1,189,002 (1.5 percent) and a two-year increase of $1,828,948 (2.32 percent). A home worth $200,000 in 2016 would have paid $2,340 in taxes, while today it might be worth $204,640, with a tax bill of $2,864.96.
The municipal tax rate is $1.53, a 60-cent (64.52 percent) increase from 2017, and it is $1.13 (282.5 percent) higher than in 2016, when the rate was 40 cents per $1,000.
The county tax rate is $2.81 per $1,000, the same as the 2016 rate, but 33 cents (10.51 percent) less than the 2017 tax rate.
The state education rate is $4.30 per $1,000, a 19-cent (4.62 percent) increase from 2017 and an 87-cent (25.36 percent) increase from 2016.
The local education rate is $5.36, down $2.10 (28.15 percent) from 2017, but 30 cents (5.93 percent) higher than it was in 2016.
Hebron
Hebron’s 2018 tax rate is $8.36 per $1,000, a decrease of 58 cents (6.49 percent) from 2017, but 4 cents (0.48 percent) higher than the 2016 rate.
The town’s net assessed valuation is $263,205,865, an increase of $3,088,890 (1.19 percent) from 2017 and an increase of $4,908,165 (1.9 percent) from 2016. A home assessed at $200,000 in 2016 would have had a tax bill of $1,664. Today it might be assessed at $203,800 with a tax bill of $1,703.77.
The municipal tax rate is $3.76 per $1,000, a decrease of 41 cents (9.83 percent) from 2017 and a decrease of 9 cents (2.34 percent) since 2016.
The county tax rate is $1.96, a 15-cent (8.29 percent) increase from 2017 and an 8-cent (4.25 percent) increase from 2016.
The state education tax rate is $2.21, down 22 cents (9.05 percent) from 2017 and 12 cents (5.15 percent) since 2016.
The local education tax rate is 43 cents per $1,000, a drop of 10 cents (18.87 percent) from 2017, but 17 cents (65.38 percent) higher than in 2016.
