BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Hopkinton taxpayers won’t see an increase in the tax rate for 2007. While town and school tax rates remained level, the county tax increased slightly.

Overall, the Hopkinton tax rate for 2006 and 2007 remained the same at $21.05 per $1,000 assessed property valuation. A home assessed at $300,000, for example, would see a tax bill of $6,315. Tax rates are reached by combining town, local school, state school and county taxes.

The 2007 town tax rate decreased to $4.04, compared to last year’s rate of $4.33. The local school rate lowered slightly from $12.78 to $12.73, while the state school tax rate remained the same at $2.08. The county rate went from $1.86 in 2006 to $2.20 this year.

Interim Town Administrator Bob Veloski said he’s happy with the job Hopkinton did in getting its rate down from last year.

“We did our best to try to control the town rate,” he said. “The selectmen were shooting for $4.17, so when I gave them the rate of $4.04 they were very happy to have exceeded the promises they made to the taxpayers.”

The town reduced its portion of the tax rate by 29 cents and still maintained many of the valuable services that the taxpayers receive, said school officals.

“A few of the residents noticed the effects of the new budget, but in all there were no major cuts to service,” said a statement released by the Board of Selectmen and SAU 66 administration.

Had the county rate remained the same, the town would have seen a drop from last year’s overall number.

The town tax rate is the lowest it has been since 1994, said Veloski.

“Having the rate be at the lowest it’s been in such a long time is very exciting for us,” he said.

The state school rate is at its lowest since 2001, and the local school reduction was due to personnel changes and contractual obligations that the school district was not forced to fulfill.

Also factored into the local school rate was a savings in health insurace.

In 2005, the insurance company gave the district a 16.5 percent increase and the rate set in May 2006 reflected a 13.5 percent jump.

Although the rate stays the same for Hopkinton homeowners overall, some homeowners may still see a higher tax bill than they did last year.

“Some of the houses may have had additions or renovations that were missed previously,” said Veloski. “In those cases, the bill will increase slightly from last year despite the 2007 tax rate.”