A new candidate for the Newcastle Board of Selectmen wants to learn more about the various factors that affect property tax rates in the town.
“I would like to know more about our taxes, why taxes seem to be so high for Newcastle,” Carolyn Hatch said. “I’m sure there are many reasons for it, and I want to understand that process.”
Newcastle has a property tax rate of $15.90 per $1,000 of property value. Thus, someone who owns a $100,000 property in Newcastle would pay $1,590 in property taxes.
The rate was $14.30 two years ago, and the town appears to be on course for a third consecutive tax hike, primarily due to a growing elementary education budget.
Hatch is the only candidate for Ellen Dickens’ seat on the board. Dickens is not running for re-election after five years on the board.
Hatch is also interested in economic development. She mentioned the loss of the Newcastle branch of The Bank of Maine, which closed in January.
“I’d like to know why, and whether we can get more businesses to come and open up in Newcastle,” she said.
Hatch decided to run after hearing from Brian Foote, the chairman of the Newcastle Board of Selectmen. “He called me and asked if I’d be interested, and it took less than a minute to say yes,” she said.
Hatch is a mother of five. Her youngest daughter, Samantha Hatch, will graduate from Lincoln Academy in June. “I have time for this,” Carolyn Hatch said. “I am filling the void of another child leaving the nest.”
She already serves the town as a firefighter and the treasurer of the Newcastle Fire Company. Her husband, Robert Hatch, and daughter, Samantha Hatch, are also Newcastle firefighters.
Carolyn Hatch works at the Miles campus of LincolnHealth, where she is the supervisor of environmental services.
She lives with her family on Academy Hill in the house her husband grew up in.
Elsewhere on the ballot, Selectman Ben Frey and Great Salt Bay School Committee member Mark Doe will run for their second consecutive terms. All terms are for three years.
