Welcome

  • Schools Need Money
 • Police & Fire need Funding
 • Town calculates, "We need $44.6 million this year." 

  • Total property value in Chatham: $12.16 billion
 • Math: $44.6M ÷ $12.16B = $3.67 per $1,000 of value
 • That's your tax RATE 

  • If EVERYONE's value doubles but budget stays same...
 • The tax RATE drops in half
 • You still pay the same dollar amount 

  • Doesn't change the $44.6M total collected
 • Changes WHO pays it
 • Takes $1.87 billion off year-round properties
 • Requires raising the rate to $4.34 to collect same $44.6M
 • Part-timers pay the higher rate on full value
 • Year-rounders pay higher rate on reduced value

• This isn't about raising or lowering total taxes. It's about shifting the burden from one group to another.
• The town still collects $44.6 million.
  The RTE just changes who writes the checks.

Here's how we calculate the transfer:

• Part-time property valuation: ~$8 billion (66% of $12.16 Billion)
• Tax rate increase: $4.34 - $3.67 = $0.67 per $1,000
• Annual shift: $8B × $0.67/$1,000 = $5,360,000