Southern N.H. tax rates climb, but property values drop

From the Eagle-Tribune;

Southern N.H. tax rates climb, but property values drop
By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com

Property tax rates are up in towns all over Southern New Hampshire, but that doesn't necessarily mean homeowners will pay more taxes in 2008.

Pelham's tax rate increased almost 10 percent, but residents will pay about $200 less on average than they did in 2007, according to Town Administrator Tom Gaydos. The drop is a result of a combination of cuts to the budget, falling property values and increased value for commercial properties, Gaydos said. Home values fell more than 11 percent in Pelham, while commercial property values increased by 30 percent.

The state Department of Revenue Administration, which assists towns in setting their tax rates, has seen rates going up in towns across the state as property values continue to fall, according to Barbara Robinson, DRA spokeswoman.

In Derry, residents will be paying more in taxes, but not as much more as the $3.50 rise in the property tax rate would indicate, because homes in Derry were revaluated this year.

The average Derry home was valued at $300,000 in 2007, but that dropped to $267,600 in 2008. The average homeowner paid $6,615 in property taxes last year. This year, the average residential property tax bill is $6,832. The $217 hike can be attributed to increases including sand, salt and pavement, chief financial officer Frank Childs said.

"This town provides a good level of services to its citizens," Childs said. "We have a high level of recreation services, an ambulance service, and provide other services to our citizens."

In other towns, where homes were not revaluated this year, increases have been more subtle. Salem saw a 5 percent increase in its tax rate from $13.21 to $13.88. Salem's 2007 property tax rate was the 49th lowest in the state, according to data from the DRA. Derry's tax rate was the highest in the region for 2007, ranking 202nd on that list. Statewide statistics from the DRA aren't available for 2008.

Londonderry's tax rate increased from $18.22 to $18.48, with the increase coming entirely from the education portion of the budget, according to Town Assessor Karen Marchand. The average homeowners in Londonderry will pay $78 more in 2008 than they did in 2007.

2008 tax bill for a $300,000 home

Atkinson: $4,458

Danville: $6,090

Derry: $7,659

Hampstead: $5,967

Kingston: $6,288

Londonderry: $5,544

Newton: $5,694

Pelham: $5,205

Plaistow: NA

Salem: $4,164

Sandown: NA

Windham: $5,400

Plaistow and Sandown have not set their 2008 tax rates.