Average Grafton homeowner will see a jump of $227 in property taxes

The average Grafton homeowner will see a property tax increase of $227 next year after the Select Board approved the Board of Assessors’ recommendations for the 2022 local tax levy.

The increase is due to multiple factors: new businesses opening in town remained low, likely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while housing prices have gone up, Principal Assessor Mary Oliver told the board.

“These values are going to continue,” Oliver said, noting the jump in selling price for local homes, “It’s not just in our town — it’s all the surrounding towns.”

The average Grafton home is assessed at $448,565 which, multiplied by the new tax rate of $16.88, brings the average single-family tax bill to $7,572.’

The Select Board rejected a split tax rate, which would lower residential property taxes while increasing taxes for commercial property. The town historically has had a single rate, Oliver said, adding that communities with a far larger business presence choose to go that route — and rarely return to a single rate.

There is good news on the commercial front, however. MJ’s Market, Grafton’s first marijuana retailer, opened last week and has plans to expand into cannabis cultivation, product manufacturing, and medical prescriptions. Work is also starting at 8 Pine Street, the site for a mixed use retail/residential property.

Grafton overall has seen an increase of $865,000 — 75.25 percent residential, 7.45 percent commercial and industrial, and 17.3 percent personal property.

The overall assessed value for the town is $2,993,833,681.

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