City Property Tax Rate Set at $15.38

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has approved the City’s 2017 tax rate for Fiscal Year 2018 of $15.38 per $1,000 of valuation.

Acting City Manager Nancy Colbert Puff said the approved 2017 tax rate dropped by $1.66, or 9.7 percent from the current 2016 tax rate of $17.04. In order to fund the $109 million budget which was adopted by Council in June (for fire, police, school and general government services for the fiscal year that began July 1), approximately $83 million must be raised in property taxes with the remainder coming from other revenue sources. The tax rate was set based on the recently completed revaluation, said Colbert Puff.

Assessor Rosann Lentz reported the total assessed value of the City of Portsmouth now exceeds $5.4 billion, an increase of $696 million or 14 percent over prior year, primarily due to market changes within the City. The median single family property value increased from $347,600 to $410,800, or $63,200 or 18 percent in value.   

Finance Director Judie Belanger states that the median single family property in 2016 paid $17.04 per $1,000 in value, or $5,923 in property taxes. With the completion of the revaluation, the tax rate dropped to $15.38, a $1.66 or 9.7 percent decrease from the prior year. Therefore, the median single family property tax will increase by $395.00. 

The newly approved tax rate will be reflected in the tax bills mailed this month, with the first half due 30 days after they are mailed and the second half due June 1, 2018. Again this year, the City of Portsmouth provides an online tax calculator for residents to use to estimate their tax bills for Fiscal Year 2018.  

Property owners who wish to contest their assessments may request a review of their value by filing an abatement application with the Assessing Department. Applications must be filed by March 1, 2018. The Department will issue a response no later than July 1, 2018. If property owners wish to appeal the Assessing Department’s decision, they can file with either the New Hampshire Board of Tax and Land Appeals, or Rockingham County Superior Court by September 1, 2018. Abatement applications can be found online at or by contacting the Assessing Department at 610-7249.