Billerica Select Board Unanimously Adopts Maximum Commercial Tax Shift for FY2024

BILLERICA — November 20, 2023 — Billerica Select Board unanimously set a 175 percent commercial-industrial property tax shift for fiscal year 2024, the maximum allowed by law and the board's policy for over a decade. Board of Assessors presenter John Speidel told the board that, even with the maximum shift, the owner of a median-assessed home — now valued at $572,000, up from $345,000 in 2018 — faces an estimated $234 annual tax increase, on top of roughly $527 the prior year. Acting Chair Kimberly Connelly noted that Billerica's residential tax rate remains second lowest among 10 comparable communities, trailing only Burlington. Before the tax vote, the board gave a standing recognition to the Billerica Fire Department, Police, and nine mutual aid departments for a 14-hour Route 3 hazmat response on November 15 involving an overturned tanker carrying 10,800 gallons of fuel, which closed both directions of the highway for approximately 20 hours with no fatalities. Selectman Rosa moved letters of commendation for all responders; the board approved unanimously. The board also approved, 5-0, the transfer of the off-premises all-alcoholic license at 240 National Road from West Billerica Liquors to Pyon Corporation, doing business as Easy Liquors, pending ABCC review expected in early January 2024, and voted 3-2 to refer an open meeting law complaint — tied to the board's handling of a special-election petition — to Town Counsel over Rosa's objection that the charter requires the board to simply set the election date.