Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 5, 2025 TAX RATES | FROM PAGE 1 ly and Jennifer D’Eon) appeared before the Board of Selectmen for a public hearing to determine the percentage of local tax levy for the 2026 Fiscal Year to be borne by each class of taxable property within the Town of Saugus. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree stressed that the average tax bill Saugus homeowners will pay next year is far less than in many other communities in the region. “We do have a very good bang for the buck for residents in Saugus,” Crabtree said. “No one wants to pay more taxes or have an increase on your cell phone or electricity bill. But the average tax bill in Saugus compared to the communities around us is very significant,” he said. In addition, Crabtree noted that other area communities charge residents a fee for trash hauling and pickup. For instance, it’s $200 a year in Danvers and $432 a year in Melrose. Saugus residents do not pay a trash fee. Citizens also benefit from the town being “a full service community” that provides full-time public safety. “We should be appreciative of the commercial property because they are picking up a significant portion of the taxes,” Crabtree said. “One of the takeaways that people need to understand – and we try to explain this every year – the most important thing residents should focus on is your average tax bill.” Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said Saugus taxpayers enjoy “a very good bang for the buck” compared to what many other communities in the region offer. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Sizing up Saugus’ tax bill Here’s how the Fiscal Year 2025 average residential tax Average Community home value $641,074 $693,303 $765,770 $817,630 $776,158 $890,915 Saugus Danvers Stoneham Melrose Wakefield Reading Lynnfield $1,045,013 Sizing up Saugus’ tax rates Here’s how the residential tax rate in Saugus for Fiscal Year 2025 compares with residential tax rates of other area communities: • Saugus – $10.68 • Danvers – $10.99 bill for Saugus compares with other area communities: Average single family tax bill $6,847 $7,619 $7,834 $8,095 $8,809 $10,148 $11,035 • Lynnfield – $10.56 • Melrose – $9.90 • Reading – $11.39 • Stoneham – $10.23 • Wakefield – $11.35 The report also noted how the CIP tax rate for Saugus Board of Assessors Member Jennifer D’Eon briefed selectmen during last week’s Tax Classification hearing. She noted that selectmen have historically chosen the maximum allowable shift factor to afford residential taxpayers the lowest share of the tax. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) compared to Fiscal Year 2025 CIP rates of other area communities: • Saugus – $21.96 • Danvers –$18.79 • Lynnfield – $19.18 • Melrose – $17.75 • Reading – $12.67 • Stoneham – $19.40 • Wakefield – $21.76 Total Taxable Value in Saugus Class Value (Fiscal Year 2026) Residential – $6.4 billion – 84 percent share Commercial – $860.7 million – 11.2 percent share Industrial – $195 million – 2.5 percent share Personal – $174 million – 2.3 percent share Total – $7.7 billion Total FY 2026 New Growth in Saugus Residential – $563,955.71 Commercial – $63,195.54 Industrial – $5,751.32 Personal Property – $592,138.00 Total New Growth – $1,225,040.58 TAX RATES | SEE PAGE 6
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