Schools blamed for tax rate increase

LYNDEBOROUGH

The town tax rate for 2004 has increased $1.58 per $1,000 of valuation, from last year, with all of the increase coming in the local school portion.
The new tax rate is set at $26.36, an overall increase of about 6.4 percent from last year.
The local school rate rose $3.57, from $11.68 to $15.25, most of it attributed to unexpected special education costs.
The school rise is offset by no change in the town portion, $6.53, and a decrease in the state school portion, from $5.30 to $3.32. The county tax has increased by a penny to $1.28.
Tax bills are due 30 days after being issued.