Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)

Citation: Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)
Jurisdiction: Arlington (municipal)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/57214/637641171662530000 ↗

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Average assessed values of single-family homes grew 41% between FY2016 and FY2020, with an average
annual growth of 9%. The average tax bill on single-family homeowners grew 21%, with an average annual
growth of 5%. While the growth in taxes is slower than the growth in values, single-family homeowners with
limited incomes must still find a way to pay on average $1,633 more in taxes in FY2020 than in FY2016.25
Growth in assessed values and taxes is also uneven across Arlington. Despite a relatively constant residential tax
rate, in 2019 the combination of the debt exclusion, the tax override, and a marked increase in assessed value,
the increase in many residents’ individual tax bills was steep. The Massachusetts Avenue corridor, which overlaps
with most of Arlington’s multifamily districts, saw a 21% increase in assessed value and a 16% increase in the
individual tax bills from FY18 to FY19.26 Even though the tax rate has actually gone down in recent years, with
market values rising as fast as they have, the amount of taxes owed is increasing.
Households meeting certain demographic and income criteria are eligible for some property tax relief. Low-
income seniors can receive a $1,300 exemption on property taxes if their income is roughly $27,000 if single
and $40,000 if married. Certain veterans, the blind, and others are also eligible for exemptions. However, there
are no exemptions to the tax override.
Participants in this plan’s public engagement were concerned that Arlington’s tax policies were overly
burdensome to seniors on fixed incomes who are unable to afford large tax increases. One resident said, “A lot
of the housing that’s being built [in Arlington] is luxury housing. People move to Burlington or Woburn where they
can buy condos and won’t have a high tax