It's lower taxes for Westfield's residents

Westfield taxpayers may see lower tax bills this year with a 4 percent decrease in the city's tax rate.

That means a homeowner with a house valued at $241,000 in 2007 would see taxes drop by about $217, from $4,868 in 2007 to $4,651 in 2008.

The rates are based on assessed valuations released late last week.

Bruce Hauk, the city's chief administrative officer and deputy mayor, said the lower rate marks a turnaround for Westfield, which has been known for high taxes.

"We tend to have drawn attention to our tax rate in the past," Hauk said. "(Now) we are effectively trying to reduce the cost by creating better assessed value."

The lower taxes result from a mix of state policy, growth in high-end homes and businesses in the city and fiscal planning by leaders in city government and Westfield Washington Schools.

Under the 2008 total tax rate, Westfield decreased by about a penny, from $2.52 to $2.51 per $100 of assessed value -- a decrease of less than 1 percent.

But the rate a homeowner actually pays decreased from $2.01 to $1.93 per $100 of assessed value.

That's due to an increase in the homestead credit provided by the state as part of this year's property tax reform package.

Westfield leaders say responsible planning also played a role.

"(The decrease) would have been eroded if the overall rate would have gone beyond $2.52," Hauk said.

The city increased its tax rate this year from 33 cents per $100 of assessed value to 37 cents, but the increase came in tandem with a 4 cent decrease in the school tax rate.

Hauk said the city and schools worked together to ensure the rates would balance.

The city's increase helped cover the additional cost of providing services to residents living in 10 square miles in the southwest portion of Washington Township, who were annexed into the city in March 2006.

It also will help the city make some much-needed increases to public safety personnel.

To avoid any additional tax increase, the city borrowed money this year -- up to $5.5 million -- to make up for a cash-flow deficit caused by delayed property tax revenues and a shortfall from a four-year tax abatement offered to residents in the annexed area. Because the city borrowed over the short term, interest payments will be minimal, Hauk said.

On the schools' end, an increase in assessed value through influx of higher-priced homes and businesses has helped reduce debt payments, decreasing the school tax rate over the last five years.

Superintendent Mark Keen said this year's decrease is bigger than those of the past few years.

He said the rate should continue to decrease as construction of new buildings catches up with student growth and assessed value continues to roll in.

City leaders are banking on 6.8 percent growth in assessed value annually to help reduce tax rates more in coming years -- a factor that will be more feasible as tax breaks to residents in the city's annexed area decrease, providing built-in growth.

"We have known assessed value that comes onto the tax rolls for the next four years," Hauk said.