Dalton and Fire District Set Tax Rates for FY25

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board voted to maintain a single tax rate, as it has done historically, during its meeting on Monday night. 
 
This means all types of properties within the town, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, will be taxed at the same rate.
 
The town's tax rate for fiscal year 2025 is projected to be $16.47 per $1,000 property value, which is a decrease of 54 cents from last year's rate of $17.01. 
 
The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $5,561.06 for an average value of $337,648.
 
Residential properties continue to represent most of the total value in town, at approximately 86 percent, with commercial, industrial, and personal property only making up about 14 percent, Assessor's Clerk Lee Nunez said.  
 
The town's excess levy capacity for FY25 is approximately $777,158, which is down from FY24's figure of $864,386.07. The town takes this figure into consideration when developing the budget. 
 
The total assessed value of taxable properties in town for FY25 is $959,176,725, an increase of $63,853,860, or 7.13 percent over last year. 
 
The Dalton Fire District's prudential committee also voted to maintain a single-payer tax rate, as it has done for many years, at its meeting on Tuesday. 
 
The Fire District and town are two separate governing and taxing bodies. The Fire and Water departments are the Fire District's responsibility. The Board of Water Commissioners and the Prudential Committee govern the district.
 
The district's tax rate is set according to its yearly budget. During the Fire District's annual meeting, voters approved budget articles amounting to approximately $3,524,680 for fiscal year 2025. 
 
A number of the budget hikes were caused by increases outside the district's control, specifically insurance, Water Commission Chair James Driscoll said during the annual meeting
 
The district's tax rate for fiscal 2025 is projected to be $1.66 per $1,000 property value. 
 
The average tax bill for a single-family residence in Dalton would be about $559.42 for an average value of $337,648.

Tags: fire district,   fiscal 2025,   property taxes,   tax classification,   

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Central Berkshire Picks Insider Henault for Next Superintendent

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Michael Henault is interviewed by the School Committee on Wednesday. 
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee didn't go far to find its next superintendent. 
 
The committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to offer the post to Michael Henault, who has been the district's assistant superintendent for three years. 
 
"He is an incredible candidate. It doesn't matter for what district, and I think he is ready, and certainly chomping at the bit to take on the next challenge," said Charlotte Crane, committee member. 
 
"I suspect that we wouldn't be able to hold on again for too much longer in the assistant superintendent position." 
 
The vote came at the end of a four-hour meeting during which Henault and two other finalists — John Franzoni, superintendent of the Northern Berkshire School Union, and Matthew Bishop, interim deputy superintendent for the Pittsfield Public Schools — were interviewed. 
 
The 13 of the 15 committee members representing the seven towns in the district agreed that it was a difficult decision because of the quality of the candidates. 
 
"I'm extremely torn right now," said Ellen Lattizzori of Dalton. 
 
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