A seventh-grade science class at Pentucket Regional Middle High School in West Newbury first noticed the scent, but the class was not working with any chemicals at the time.
Dec 24, 2020
The state Department of Revenue certified property tax rates earlier this week and Merrimac and Amesbury hold the top two spots, respectively, when it comes to increases in their tax levies.
A municipality s tax levy is the amount of revenue it will raise through taxing property.
Merrimac had a tax levy of $13,614,041 in fiscal 2020 and will have a tax levy of $15,257,332 in fiscal 2021, an increase of 12.07%, according to state numbers.
Finance Director Carol McLeod said Merrimac residents will see an increase of 9.54% in their property tax rate, which will rise from $14.88 per $1,000 of property valuation to $16.30.
She said the average homeowner with a property assessed at $431,483 can expect to pay a tax bill of $7,033 in fiscal 2021, up from $6,375 in fiscal 2020.