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Vol. 3, No. 50
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Friday, December 14, 2018
Homeowners to pay State education commissioner higher property taxes impressed with PVMHS despite lower rate J T By Christopher Roberson
By Christopher Roberson
he City Council recently voted 8-3 to set the tax rate for fiscal year 2019 at $11.01 per $1,000 for residential properties and $23.69 per $1,000 for commercial properties. By comparison, the rates approved for fiscal year 2018 were $11.46 for residential proper ties and $ 2 4 . 1 1 fo r co m m e rc i a l properties. Although the new rates are lower, the average residential value has skyrocketed from $361,300 last year to $393,800 this year. The average commercial value has also increased from $1.4 million to $1.5 million during the same time period. During the council’s Dec. 6 meeting, Mayor Edward Bettencourt said property values now total $7.9 billion. “This explosive growth
is unprecedented in our city’s history,” he said. Bettencourt said two- and three-family homes reflect the largest increase in property values at 18.9 percent. In addition, the value of single-family homes increased by 8.4 percent and condominiums rose by eight percent. He also said commercial values are up by 3.9 percent and industrial values have risen by 6.6 percent. “Our growth has been driven by the continued investment in our city that we have made together,” said Bettencourt. As a result, he said, the city has been able to purchase four new fire trucks as well as add more firefighting positions. Bettencourt said the city’s five fire stations now have at least three firefighters includ-
HOMEOWNERS | SEE PAGE 13
effrey Riley, commissioner of the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), liked what he saw during his recent tour of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. Since becoming the state’s 24th commissioner eight months ago, Riley has made a concerted effort to visit every school district in Massachusetts. During his Dec. 11 visit, Riley was joined by Mayor Edward Bettencourt, Superintendent of Schools Cara Murtagh, High School Principal Eric Buckley, State Rep. Thomas Walsh and School Committee Members Andrew Arnotis and Beverley Griffin Dunne. Some of the stops along the tour included the school’s salon, the student health center and an Honors English class. Riley also watched Jessica Manzo’s Spanish students playing Jeopardy and ob-
State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley (left) and Mayor Edward Bettencourt on their recent tour of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
served a fingerprinting exercise in Mae Taylor’s forensic science class. “What I saw here today was engaging creativity,” Riley said following the tour, adding that he was impressed not only as an educator but as a father. Buckley said he appreciates
Riley’s enthusiasm and overall “down-to-earthness.” “I was really impressed with how he interacted with the kids,” said Buckley, adding that Riley was at the high school for nearly two hours. “He wanted to talk
PVMHS | SEE PAGE 2
Peabody Winter Sports Begin
Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading’s Kat DiGiulio splits two Marblehead defenders during this rush in last Saturday’s 6-2 season-opening victory against the Magicians. See story Captains Mike Tansey, Chris Canela and Joe O’Neill will lead the Peabody Tanners boys’ basand photos on page 7. (Advocate photos by Greg Phipps) ketball team in the 2018-2019 season. See story on page 6. (Advocate photo by Greg Phipps)