Gilford taxpayers likely to see increased bills of about 5%

GILFORD — The town's 2025 tax rate is $11.85 per $1,000 of assessed value, representing a 5.3% increase over last year’s rate.

According to information provided by Town Administrator Scott Dunn, the state Department of Revenue Administration set the tax rate on Oct. 31, coming in at $0.60 higher than last year’s total of $11.25.

The tax rate is made up of four factors, including the town and county rates, as well as the local and state education rates, over which the town has no control.

The town rate is 34% of the total tax rate at $4.03, which is a 7.5% increase over last year’s rate of $3.75.

“Ultimately, the town portion of the rate is the function of the budget that is approved at Town Meeting, which is reviewed by the selectmen and the budget committee,” Dunn said. “That is the biggest driving factor for tax increases.”

The county rate, 8.95% of the total rate, is $1.06. That is an increase of 1.5% over the 2024 tax rate of $0.67.

Local and state education tax rates combine for 57.05% of the total rate. The local education tax rate is $5.61, showing a 6.05% increase over the 2024 rate of $5.29. The state education rate is $1.15, which is down 10.16% from last year’s rate of $1.28.

“We have no control over the school portion, but it works the same way as the town,” Dunn said. “We have no say at all in the state education portion, and the county is a function of the budget approved by the delegation.”

The county delegation is made up of Belknap's representatives to the Statehouse.

Residents of Gunstock Acres Village Water District will also have a tax rate of $0.68, which is $0.01 higher than last year’s rate of $0.67.

Gilford’s total assessed valuation is $3.56 billion, a 0.7% increase over the 2024 value of $3.53 billion.

Dunn said the tax rate was what he expected, and most taxpayers will see an increase. He anticipates tax bills will be in the mail during the week of Nov. 10. 

There is a projected due date of Thursday, Dec. 11.