City Hall: City tax rate set; officials want to talk if you see red brick and want to paint it black

Manchester’s tax rate has been set.

Manchester’s final Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) tax rate for fiscal year 2026 has been set at $20.24 per $1,000, up 66 cents — or 3.37% — from the previous year’s $19.58 per $1,000, according to City Finance Director Sharon Wickens .

The $20.24 is 18 cents more than the $20.06 figure aldermen were working with when they approved a fiscal year ’26 budget that came in a little over $439 million in early June — and the 2.45% increase in the city’s tax rate it was built on.

Wickens reported the city’s net valuation increased by $79.9 million, or 0.06%, from fiscal year 2025.

According to Wickens, city revenue adjustments made since aldermen passed their budget include $300,000 in additional funds for Meals and Rooms tax revenue, along wit