Tax classification hearing

The City Council, meeting in a joint convention, will hold its annual tax classification hearing Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. The state requires all cities and towns to hold hearings annually to determine whether to have separate tax rates for residents and businesses, and if so, how the levy would be divided between the categories. The tax rate or rates are subject to approval by the state Department of Revenue. For last fiscal year, Everett adopted a split rate with the maximum shift allowed by law, with businesses paying 75 percent more than they would have under a single rate. The residential tax rate last year was $15.89 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the business rate was $43.74 per $1,000. In a separate meeting of the Board of Aldermen at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28, Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. is expected to propose that the city maintain its policy of providing the maximum allowable tax exemption for owner-occupied residential properties. - John Laidler