The Fall River City Council approved the city’s fiscal year 2027 tax classification factor at Tuesday’s meeting after the Board of Assessors recommend the maximum allowable shift of 1.75.
The Council by a vote of 8-1 (Peckham being the lone no vote) approved the 1.75 factor which puts the residential tax rate at approximately $11.47 per $1,000 of assessed value, a one-cent decrease from the FY2026 rate of $11.48. The commercial rate falls to roughly $23.46 per $1,000, down from $23.58 the previous year.
The council does not set the overall amount of taxes raised, that is limited by Proposition 2½, but it does decide the classification factor that shifts the relative burden between property classes. Fall River has approved the maximum 1.75 factor in recent years, including for FY2025 and FY2026. In FY2026, the 1.75 shift produced a residential rate of $11.48 and a commercial rate of $23.58.
Rising property values remain a key factor in what residents will actually pay. The median value of a single-family home in Fall River has increased to about $419,477, up from roughly $405,164 a year earlier. Even with a slightly lower residential rate under the 1.75 factor, many homeowners are expected to see slightly higher tax bills because of higher assessments.
The 1.75 classification is the highest shift the city is permitted to use. It is designed to keep the residential rate lower than it would otherwise be by placing a greater share of the burden on commercial properties.
During the meeting, programs were also highlighted that provide discounts for certain veterans, disabled, and seniors if they apply and are accepted. Contact the Fall River Assessor’s Office at (508) 324-2300 or the online forms here.
