The amounts to be raised by taxes (TBRBT) for Andover for 2020 add up to $6,717,225. This is an increase over last year of $61,461 (0.9%). 

Two factors kept that increase from appearing on our 2020 tax bills:

1) A small increase in the total town valuation (2.1%) for 2020, and 

2) The Select Board voted to use $150,000 from the Town’s “fund balance” to offset taxes.

Together, those factors more than offset the increase in TBRBT, driving the 2020 tax rate down to $21.88 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a decrease of 1% from last year. 

As a result, the 2020 tax bill for an Andover property valued at $200,000 decreased by about $44, or 1%, compared to last year.

Andover School Taxes

The 2020 annual School District Meeting voted a total appropriation of $5,988,886, up from the previous year by $333,230 (5.9%). After taking revenues and the State Education Grant into account, the amount to be raised by taxes for 2020 is $4,506,674, up 4.0% over last year.

The School tax rate for 2020 was $14.72, an increase of 2.0% over last year.

Andover Town Taxes

The 2020 Andover Town Meeting voted to appropriate $2,260,796, down from last year by $182,751 or 7.2%.

The Select Board voted to use $150,000 of accumulated fund surplus to offset 2020 taxes. Then, after taking revenues into account, the amount to be raised by taxes came in at $1,281,307, down from last year by $106,783 (7.7%).

The Town tax rate for 2020, helped by the 2.1% rise in total valuation mentioned above, is $4.15, down 9.6% from last year.

Fire Department Taxes

The total amount to be raised by taxes for the Andover Fire District for 2020 is $166,816, up almost 20% over the amount raised for 2019. The Fire District tax rate for 2020 is $0.54 per $1,000 of property valuation, up 17.4% from last year.

County Taxes

Finally, the bill to Andover from Merrimack County for our share of the county’s 2020 budget is $762,428. This is down from 2019 by $31,552 (4.0%). The county tax rate for this year is $2.47, down 5.7%.

If you are an Andover property owner, you should have received your second 2020 tax bill in the mail by now. The bill is due by December 28, with 8% APR interest charged after that date. 

Your printed bill will remind you that “if you are elderly, disabled, blind, a veteran, or a veteran’s spouse, or are unable to pay taxes due to poverty or other good cause, you may be eligible for a tax exemption, credit, abatement, or deferral.” For details and application information, contact the Town Clerk or Select Board offices.