Worcester taxes-

County to lower income tax rate

The Worcester County Commissioners decided on Monday (5/19) to lower the county’s income tax rate and set the homestead tax credit rate to zero.

 Officials said they hoped the moves will offer some financial relief to residents and taxpayers, given the county’s estimated $7.85 million budget surplus going into fiscal year 2026, which starts July 1. The current surplus includes major decisions made in recent weeks, including slicing the proposed cost-of-living-adjustments from $4,000 for county employees to $2,000.

At Tuesday's budget hearing, the commissioners voted unanimously to drop the county’s income tax rate a quarter of a percent, from 2.25% to 2%.

County leaders also voted to drop the Homestead Property Tax Credit from 3% down to 0%.

A zeroed-out homestead tax credit means eligible homeowners would effectively freeze their property tax rate, according to County Administrator Weston Young.