Property tax bills go out twice a year, in October and May. When your bill for the first half of fiscal year 2027 arrives around October 1, you’ll notice an increase. Here’s why, and where that money goes.
Where your tax dollars go
Property taxes are the Town’s largest source of revenue, making up 84% of the total budget. That funding covers services every resident relies on:
• Schools and education
• Employee salaries and benefits
• Road maintenance and snow plowing
• Public safety
• Day-to-day operations
• And more
Why property taxes went up this year
Property taxes are up because of an increase in the tax levy — the amount the Town needs to raise in taxes to run the government and offer essential services. Voters decide the levy at Annual Town Meeting each May.
The budget items residents voted for at Town Meeting last May brought the tax levy to $24,075,031 — an increase of $2,193,165, or 9.12%, over last year’s levy of $21,881,866, even though the Town’s own operating budget rose by only 2.4%. That gap can be confusing, so here’s what’s behind it:
School reserve funds are used up. Over the past couple of years, the schools have drawn on reserve funds to help cover general education and operating costs. That kept the tax rate artificially low for a while — but those reserves are now exhausted, so this year’s budget reflects the full cost of services without that cushion.
Health insurance costs have spiked. Employee health insurance costs fluctuate from year to year, and they’re currently at an elevated level.
Inflation affects Town spending too. The same price pressures you’re feeling at home — on groceries, gas, and everyday goods — also hit Town government. Vehicles, fuel, tools, supplies, and contracted services all cost more than they did a few years ago.
There is less state aid to offset rising costs. The unrestricted aid that the state gives to local governments has fallen since 2007 from about 11% of total local taxes to 5% in 2024.* That means Williamstown now relies more on property taxes to make up the difference.
It’s NOT the new Fire District building. Your tax bill includes a separate line for the Fire District tax. The Fire District runs its own budget, separate from the Town’s. It’s governed by its own board, the Prudential Committee, and is a separate taxing authority from the Town. Fire District expenses do not directly affect the Town’s tax levy. The Fire District tax went up a few years ago to start paying off the new building. It’s still elevated but went down slightly this year.
How the tax rate is set
Here’s how the Town determines the property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property value:
Take the total amount the Town needs to raise (the tax levy, approved by voters at Town Meeting). Divide it by the total assessed value of all taxable property in town. Then multiply by 1,000.
$24,075,031 (Tax Levy) ÷ $1,588,062,712 (Total Taxable Value) × 1,000 = $15.16 per $1,000
The Fire District, a separate taxing authority, used a similar formula to set its own rate at $1.15 per $1,000.
How much is the tax bill going up?
For the median single-family home, valued at $468,400, the town portion of the tax bill is $7,101, up by $661 from last year. That’s a bigger increase than we’ve seen in the recent past. Last year, the increase was $380. The Fire District portion is actually going down slightly to $539 for a median single-family home, a drop of $23.
How your assessment factors in
Your share of the Town’s total tax bill depends on your property’s assessed value — what the Town says it’s worth. Town Assessor Chris Lamarre updates property values each year to reflect current market trends.
To learn more about how the assessor determines property values, read on below.
Check your own assessment
You can check your own property assessment on the interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) map.
Search by last name → open your property card by clicking “Patriot Property Card” → select “Assessors Record Card” or “Summary Record Card” to see your property’s assessed value.
You can also access the Assessor’s Record Card for a property at Patriot Properties. Simply enter your address or name, choose the parcel, then click “Assessor’s Record Card.”
Thank you for paying your tax bills on time — due November 2, 2026. We appreciate your understanding as we work to keep the budget responsible while maintaining the services residents rely on.
*To understand more about decreases in unrestricted local aid from the state, please see Massachusetts Municipal Association document, Navigating the Storm: Charting a Course Toward Fiscal Stability.