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Your community. Your news. Your paper. Vol. 50 | No. 48 | November 29, 2024
Shrewsbury · Westborough · Northborough · Southborough · Marlborough · Hudson · Grafton
Westborough’s average single-family tax bill estimated at $12,314
Marshall sworn into the Northborough Police Dept.
By Maureen Sullivan Assistant Editor
1974 - 20
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WESTBOROUGH – The average singlefamily household’s tax bill is projected to be $12,314 in fiscal 2025, which is an increase of approximately 5.43% from the previous average bill of $11,680. Town staff attributed the increase to a rise in property values with the value of the average single-family home increasing from $711,740 to $755,913. The Select Board voted to approve an estimated single tax rate of $16.29 per thousand during its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The board also voted against any residential or commercial exemption. The rate is 12 cents lower than the $16.41 per thousand rate for fiscal 2024.
Scandinavian Athletic Club celebrates 100 years
Shrewsbury | 4 ‘No parking’ zone comes Lyman Street
Tax bill | 5
As property values rise, Shrewsbury tax rate drops to $12.04 By Evan Walsh Reporter SHREWSBURY – Shrewsbury’s fiscal year 2025 tax rate will be $12.04, a drop of 35 cents from last year’s $12.39 rate. It will be the town’s lowest rate since 2013. After a presentation by Principal Assessor Ruth Anderson, the Select Board unanimously voted to set the rate on Nov. 19. The Assessor’s Department has valued Shrewsbury property at approximately $9.3 billion, an increase of $556 million, or 6.37% over last year; overall values have increased by $2.8 billion, or 43%, since 2021. While valuations are skyrocketing, the town’s numbers are comparable to state averages, Anderson said. Tax rate | 2
Detective Steve Sullivan holds Marshall outside of the Northborough Police Department. Marshall recently joined the department as the comfort dog. (Photo/Laura Hayes)
By Laura Hayes Managing Editor NORTHBOROUGH – The “sergeant of snuggles” has officially arrived at the Northborough Police Department. Marshall is an 11-week-old English chocolate Labrador and the department’s new comfort dog. “He’s definitely testing his boundaries as a puppy at home, but when he puts the vest on he pretty much already knows that he’s in work mode, and he’s pretty calm,” said Detective Steve Sullivan, who is Marshall’s handler. Marshall came from Boonefield Labradors in New Hampshire, which breeds dogs that have gone to other police departments. Sullivan said that Boonefield owners Peggi and Dave Brogan do a great job setting up dogs with their future owners. Based on an application and
whether they will be a working dog and part of a police department, they pair families with the dogs from the litter. After the department learned that it was in line for this litter of puppies and Sullivan learned that he would be the handler, he brought his two daughters to the park where they met puppies that they were able to pet. “She goes, ‘Daddy, I want a puppy,’ and she would not stop talking about getting a puppy. I said, ‘Well, we’ve got news for you — we’re getting one,’” Sullivan recalled. Every day, his daughter asked when the puppy was coming home. Sullivan and his wife met the dogs when they were four weeks old — Marshall was the dog he bonded most with. At the six-week mark, Boonefield holds an orientation and the Sullivans met the other families who were taking Marshall | 14
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