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Property Tax Rates & Definitions
Real vs. Personal Property
Real Estate Property
There is a physical distinction to be made to determine whether property is real or personal. Real estate is the physical land and appurtenances including structures affixed thereto in addition to the interests, benefits and rights inherent in the ownership of physical real property known as the bundle of rights.
Personal Property
Personal property is generally those items not permanently affixed to real estate. Personal property is movable and can be removed without serious damage either to the real estate or to the item being removed. The 3 categories of taxable personal properties are:
- Business and professional furnishings
- Household furnishings, in property other than the principal residence
- Personal property of public utilities
Revaluation
Assessors in every city and town are responsible for developing a revaluation program to completely analyze and revalue all property within its borders every 3 years. In the 2 interim years between reevaluations, the assessor will adjust values in response to significant changes in the real estate market. Revaluations are required under Massachusetts law and are regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue's Bureau of Local Assessment. The rationale for revaluation and interim year adjustments is to always maintain property at fair market or fair cash value to ensure equity for all classes of property.
Fair Cash Value
Full and Fair Cash Value
The assessors are required to assess all property at its "full and fair cash value," a term which could also be described as "market value" or "fair market value." Massachusetts General Laws define full and fair cash value as the price an owner willing, but not under compulsion, to sell, ought to receive from one willing but not under compulsion, to buy.
Market Value
The definition of market value as noted by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) is as follows: "Market value is the most probable price expressed in terms of money that a property would bring if exposed for sale in the open market in an arm's length transaction between a willing seller and a willing buyer both of whom are knowledgeable concerning all the uses to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used." An "arm's length transaction" would be a sale between 2 unrelated parties both seeking to maximize their position from the transaction.
Determining Market Value
To determine fair market value, actual sales are used. The sales considered are those which occurred 12 months prior to the January 1 assessment date and 6 months after the January 1 date, trended back to January 1.
All arms length sales are considered bearing in mind that all buyers and sellers are not knowledgeable and that the market is imperfect in that regard. For this reason, one individual sale is not used to determine "market value." In reviewing and researching 18 months of sales, the assessor is able to estimate the approximate price a willing buyer might pay for a property on January 1.
Property Tax Rate Factors
3 factors determine the property tax rate:
- The property tax levy
- The total assessed value of the community
- Classification
Property Tax Levy
Tax Levy
The tax levy is the amount of money to be raised by the property tax. Each year the amount to be raised is determined in accordance with the provisions of proposition.
2 ½. The levy limit in any given year is computed by taking the total maximum allowable levy of the previous year increased by 2.5%, plus allowances for new growth, overrides, and debt exclusions.
New Growth
New growth is based on the increased value of new developments, additions, renovations, and other growth in the tax base that is not the result of changes in market conditions. New growth is also the tax on any property that is taxable for the first time, such as a formerly exempt property becoming taxable or a business moving into Brookline with taxable machinery and equipment.
Exclusion
An exclusion is that amount of money needed to pay the principal and interest on debt incurred for special projects approved by referendum for exclusion from Proposition 2 ½ limits.
Determining the Tax Rate
Calculations
The tax rate is calculated by dividing the total amount to be raised by the total assessed of all taxable property. Tax Rate = Tax Levy / Total Assessed Value.
This rate is expressed in terms of dollars per $1,000. For example if a home is assessed for $1,000,000 and the tax rate is $10, the tax bill (before exemptions) would be computed as follows: $1,000,000 x $10 / $1,000 = $10,000.
Classified Tax Rate
Brookline has historically adopted a split tax rate, or classified tax rate, which shifts the total tax levy between major property classes, residential and commercial. In FY 2022, the selected residential factor is 0.923794, or a commercial factor of 1.711. The corresponding tax rates were: $10.19 for residential and $16.56 for commercial.
Adopting a New Tax Rate
The Select Board must vote annually following a tax classification hearing whether to adopted a classified rate and the amount of the tax levy shift. The amount to be raised through taxation is determined by the town meeting during budget deliberations.
Fiscal Year 2023 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.70
- Residential: $9.97
- Residential Exemption: $309,751
- Residential Exemption Tax: $3,088.22
Fiscal Year 2022 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.56
- Residential: $10.19
- Residential Exemption: $310,620
- Residential Exemption Tax: $3,165.22
Fiscal Year 2021 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.99
- Residential: $9.80
- Residential Exemption: $302,590
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,965.38
Fiscal Year 2020 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.53
- Residential: $9.45
- Residential Exemption: $292,060
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,759.97
Fiscal Year 2019 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.37
- Residential: $9.37
- Residential Exemption: $276,758
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,593.22
Fiscal Year 2018 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.72
- Residential: $9.46
- Residential Exemption: $246,775
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,334.49
Fiscal Year 2017 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.20
- Residential: $9.88
- Residential Exemption: $229,655
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,268.99
Fiscal Year 2016 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.99
- Residential: $10.42
- Residential Exemption: $209,531
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,183.31
Fiscal Year 2015 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $17.39
- Residential: $10.68
- Residential Exemption: $191,357
- Residential Exemption Tax: $2,043.69
Fiscal Year 2014 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $18.50
- Residential: $11.39
- Residential Exemption: $175,127
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,994.70
Fiscal Year 2013 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $18.97
- Residential: $11.65
- Residential Exemption: $167,761
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,954.42
Fiscal Year 2012 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $18.58
- Residential: $11.40
- Residential Exemption: $165,764
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,889.71
Fiscal Year 2011 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $18.30
- Residential: $11.30
- Residential Exemption: $162,607
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,837.46
Fiscal Year 2010 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $17.80
- Residential: $10.97
- Residential Exemption: $162,904
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,787.06
Fiscal Year 2009 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $17.32
- Residential: $10.69
- Residential Exemption: $162,923
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,741.64
Fiscal Year 2008 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.70
- Residential: $10.18
- Residential Exemption: $158,100
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,609.46
Fiscal Year 2007 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.88
- Residential: $9.73
- Residential Exemption: $166,331
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,618.40
Fiscal Year 2006 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $15.46
- Residential: $9.55
- Residential Exemption: $165,014
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,575.88
Fiscal Year 2005 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $16.61
- Residential: $10.23
- Residential Exemption: $149,610
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,530.51
Fiscal Year 2004 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $17.26
- Residential: $10.63
- Residential Exemption: $139,870
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,486.82
Fiscal Year 2003 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $18.18
- Residential: $11.21
- Residential Exemption: $127,220
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,426.14
Fiscal Year 2002 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $21.07
- Residential: $12.90
- Residential Exemption: $105,210
- Residential Exemption Tax: $1,357.21
Fiscal Year 2001 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $22.12
- Residential: $13.46
- Residential Exemption Value: $96,110
Fiscal Year 2000 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $24.52
- Residential: $14.83
- Residential Exemption Value: $83,240
Fiscal Year 1999 Tax Rates
- Commercial, Industrial and Personal Property (CIP): $27.90
- Residential: $16.91
- Residential Exemption Value: $71,170
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Rachid Belhocine
Chief Assessor
-
Assessor's Office
Physical Address
333 Washington St.
Room 215
Brookline, MA 02445
Phone: 617-730-2060Fax: 617-739-7572
Hours
Monday - Thursday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.Friday
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.