Leominster assessors brief council; finance committee recommends keeping a factor of 1 for tax classification

The city's assessors presented their annual booklet and a ten-year history of valuation and tax-rate trends. Rena Gagne, chief assessor, explained parcel counts, valuation changes and the Department of Revenue review process, emphasizing how shifts in values and commercial/residential assessments affect the tax rate.

Councilors questioned the potential effects of a split tax rate. Rena Gagne and staff showed that shifting a portion of the levy to commercial or personal property would produce only modest residential relief and could raise commercial tax bills substantially.

Public comment clarified household impacts. "A dollar savings on the tax rate isn't a dollar — it's hundreds of dollars in savings depending on property value," said Peter Haggis of Elm Street, underscoring how small-percentage changes translate to meaningful household effects.

The finance committee recommended retaining the single tax rate (factor of 1). The council followed the committee recommendation and maintained factor 1 during the vote at the meeting.

Next steps: The council will proceed with related budget and appropriation items during upcoming finance committee work and future meetings.