EPPING - The town's 2012 tax rate will remain the same as last year after selectmen used surplus money to avoid an increase.

The rate set by selectmen this week will be $24.27 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, meaning a property owner with a $300,000 home will see a $7,281 tax bill.

The breakdown of the new tax rate is as follows: $4.61 for the town's portion; $16.23, local schools; $2.42, state education; and $1.01, county.

Selectmen agreed to use $211,000 from a surplus to buy down the rate. In addition, town accountant Lisa Fogg said the total assessment only went up 1 percent, the schools returned almost $500,000 from its 2011-2012 budget, resulting in a slight decrease in the schools' portion, and the county tax also dropped.

"I'm thrilled with the way all departments worked to keep their budgets in check and how everybody worked to make this happen," said Selectman Karen Falcone, board chairman.

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