The Selectmen unanimously decided on Nov. 13 to keep Wareham’s tax rate a single, or unified tax rate, for residential and commercial property owners.

Splitting the rate would have lowered the tax burden on homeowners, and increase it for business owners.

The effect this will have on resident's taxes is not clear yet, as the tax rate has not yet been set for 2013.

According to Director of Assessment Elsa Miller, keeping the single tax rate makes good business sense.

“One of the major considerations [for businesses] is ‘what are my taxes going to be,’ because that effects their expenses," Miller noted. "We want to remain competitive with our neighbors.”

Marion, Mattapoisett, and Plymouth all have single tax rates.

Whether the rate is single or split has no bearing on the amount of revenue generated for the town. The amount of the tax remains the same, a split rate would merely shift the burden.