Last modified: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 12:43 AM EST

Tax split dead

ATTLEBORO -- A controversial proposal to shift more of the tax burden to homeowners from businesses died Tuesday, but city councilors plan to revisit the matter early next year to decide what course to take in the long term.

Saying they lacked time and information to make an informed decision, councilors voted unanimously to keep a dual rate and to keep the classification factor, or `` split,'' at 1.5, which means businesses get taxed at a rate 50 percent higher than if there was a single rate.

As a result, the tax rate for homeowners will likely be set by the state at $9.74 per $1,000 of valuation, while the commercial and industrial rate will likely be set at $15.86.

For complete story, see today's Sun Chronicle.