EASTHAMPTON — With an increase in average home values, single-family homeowners are seeing their tax bills increase by about $150 on average starting this month, even though the city lowered its property tax rate.

The average single-family home this fiscal year in Easthampton is valued at $381,000 with a tax bill of $5,166.37, according to Principal Assessor Martha Leamy.

That is an increase from last year’s average home value of $342,300 and tax bill of $5,014.70.

The City Council this fall set a single tax rate for all parcels, rather than shifting the residential tax burden to commercial and industrial properties through a split tax rate. While the total tax levy stays the same, the tax classification determines where that burden falls.

A single tax rate means property owners are taxed at the same rate.

“With residential properties making up 88% of our tax levy, and commercial industrial and personal property being 12% it does not make sense to shift the burden to the commercial industrial and personal property,” Leamy said at the tax classification hearing.

Ultimately, the fiscal year 2024 tax rate was set at $13.56 per $1,000 of assessed property value, down from $14.65 per $1,000 in 2023.

Councilors also voted against opting for an open space discount, given that the city has no properties classified as open space; voted against adopting a residential exception that would shift the tax burden to higher-value owner-occupied homes; and voted against opting for a small commercial exemption, which would shift tax dollars from smaller businesses to remaining larger businesses.

Maddie Fabian can be reached at mfabian@gazettenet.com.