City Property Tax Rate Set at $14.86

PORTSMOUTH – The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration has approved the City’s 2019 tax rate for Fiscal Year 2020 of $14.86 per $1,000 of valuation.

City Manager John Bohenko said the 2019 tax rate dropped by $.98, or 6.2% from the prior year tax rate of $15.84, and $1.35, or 8.3% from the anticipated tax rate of $16.21 at the time the City Council adopted the FY20 annual budget. 

Bohenko said that in order to fund the $118.6 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 $91 million must be raised in property taxes with the remainder coming from other revenue sources.

Assessor Rosann Lentz reported the total assessed value of the City of Portsmouth exceeds $6.1 billion, a net increase of $584 million or 10.5% percent over prior year, primarily due to market changes within the City.  The median single family property value in Portsmouth as of April 1, 2019 increased from $424,200 to $470,900, or $46,700 or 11% in value.

Finance Director Judie Belanger states with the completion of the revaluation and the adopted FY20 annual budget, the tax rate dropped to $14.86 from the prior year. The median single family home will pay $6,998 in 2019 compared to $6,719 in 2018, an increase of $278.00. 

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 in June 2020. Again this year, the City of Portsmouth will provide an online tax calculator at www.CityofPortsmouth.com/tax/online-property-tax-calculator for residents to use to estimate their tax bill for Fiscal Year 2020.  

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, 2020. The Department will issue a response no later than July 1, 2020. 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, 2020. Abatement applications can be found online at www.cityofportsmouth.com/assessors or by contacting the Assessing Department at 610-7249.

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