The Worcester City Council voted Tuesday night to set the fiscal year 2024 tax classification rate.

Councilors voted seven to four to set the residential rate to $13.75 per thousand and the business rate to $30.04 per thousand. The rate was decided from two tax tables based on new growth in the city.

The council voted for the second alternative, which will split the close to $5 million in new growth over budget between tax relief and supporting the city's long-term capital investment plans.

"So we can take that 5 extra million, 2 million to address the tax burdens, a million towards the Worcester fire department, you know we've got a need, we've got to have that for infrastructure, for our equipment” said Councilor At-Large Kate Toomey. “We need a new fire station – south division. A million will go to school capital maintenance needs and also a new high school stabilization plan.

“We know that Burncoat [High School] needs to be done. We know that East Middle [School] needs to be done. And if we don't start planning, preparing and saving money now, we're not going to be able to get there."

The growth in the city was across all classes, with a notable growth in residential investment due to apartment construction.