Slight Increase in Residential Property Tax for 2013

During the Nov. 26 fiscal 2013 property tax rate public hearing, the Board of Selectmen voted 5-0-0 in favor of a 0.2 perent increase in residential property tax recommended by the Board of Assesors. 

Chair of the Board of Assessors Bruce Murphy said while the average value of all residences in Bedford dropped from $511,700 in 2012 to $507,300 in 2013, construction and improvements to homes in Bedford have increased in the last year. 

"If you're not moving, you're fixing," Murphy said. 

Bedford residents had a property tax bill of $7,782.96 in 2012, and can expect to see a total of $7,797.20 on their bills for 2013, with the tax rate increasing from $15.21 in 2012 to $15.37 in 2013. 

Selectmen Chairwoman Catherine Cordes said it was also good to see an increase in commercial valuation in Bedford. 

"We're a little bit healthier in commerical too," Cordes said. 

Selectmen Michael Rosenberg said he was pleased to see such a slight increase in residential property tax for 2013.

"We'll certainly take this particular shift this year," Rosenberg said.