Mayor Richard J. Kos has called a special meeting of the City Council for a classification hearing and tax rate setting meeting for October 28, 2015 at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at the request of the Board of Assessors, with the cooperation of Council President George Moreau.

The proposed fiscal 2016 tax levy, the amount to be raised through real estate taxes, is $76,486,337.00. That amount is $1,012,771.00 less than the amount raised in 2015.
The classification is a hearing held by law by the City Council in which they consider a shift in the real-estate tax burden between the residential and commercial rates. The rate utilized last year (FY2015), was a 150% commercial shift. If the Council was to utilize the same shift in the upcoming tax year, the residential rate would be $17.05 per thousand and the commercial rate would be $30.77.

These proposed rates would represent a decrease in the residential tax rate by $0.49 per thousand, or a decrease of $45 in the average single family tax bill. The average single family tax bill would be $2,930 which would be the lowest average residential tax bill in Western Massachusetts other than Springfield.

This reduction in rate includes the recent appropriation for public safety approved by the City Council by a 12-1 vote to fund the installation of surveillance cameras in the downtown, increased patrols, overtime, equipment, and related public safety needs.

“I am very pleased that we are able to maintain the level and quality of services in the City of Chicopee that we have all come to enjoy,” said Mayor Kos. “With the support of the City Council, we are enhancing our financial commitment to public safety in our community while reducing the tax bill for our residents.”