WORCESTER, Mass. - Homeowners and business owners in Worcester will both see a jump in their tax rates in 2022.

During Tuesday night's meeting, the City Council decided on their tax rates for the next fiscal year. The council voted in favor of City Councilor At-Large Khrystian King's recommendation.

Homeowners will see an average jump in their annual tax bills of $105. The average commercial or industrial property in the city will see an average annual jump of $143.

“My thought on the tax rate was let’s be as fair and as equitable as possible during the pandemic,” King said. “We are probably going to see another surge here. It’s going to have all sorts of impacts. In addition to that, we know we have a really gentrification issue in the city. We have extremely high rates in the housing market. We have folks moving out of the city."

"In terms of the workforce, it’s been a challenge for our small businesses and our businesses to have a consistent work force," King added. "A consistent work force is a Worcester work force and in order to maintain a Worcester work force, you have to be able to afford to live here."

The rates are set at $15.22 per $1,000 assessed valuation for residential properties and $33.34 per $1,000 assessed valuation for business properties.