Hampton selectmen officially approved the tax warrant on Tuesday, signing off on a 2012 tax rate of $17.77.

The board held a brief meeting at 2 p.m. where the only business conducted was the approval of the tax warrant, Vice Chairman Dick Nichols said. The tax rate is down 16 cents from 2011's $17.93 tax rate.

That means a $325,000 home (the average assessed value of a single-family) will pay $5,775.25 compared to the $5,827.25 paid last year.

According to Tax Collector Donna Bennett, tax bills should go out Nov. 16 and are due on Dec. 17.

North Hampton's tax rate was set by the state Department of Revenue Administration last week.