Whitefield selectman Sue McKeen reported she had spoken with a Maine Revenue Services official about a resident’s request that an ad hoc committee be appointed to set local tax policy. McKeen said she was told policy is set through the Legislature. “Even an advisory group is a slippery slope,” she said. “The town can’t set policy, the state does it.”
At last week’s meeting, Steve Smith inquired about establishing such a committee and the board said it would research the matter. After receiving his 2011 property tax estimate and new values on his commercial and residential properties earlier this month, Smith questioned the townwide assessment and its accuracy.
McKeen raised the issue of obsolescence and depreciation of old buildings, such as dairy barns and other large structures, which could not be duplicated if they were to fall down or be dismantled and replaced. During the assignment of new values over the past couple of years, such factors were not taken into account. They will be brought to the attention of Jim Murphy, the assessors’ agent, said board of selectmen chairman Steve McCormick.
“This could apply to other buildings,” the chairman said, including Clary Mill.
Bill Donovan, who said taxes on his home and cottage nearly doubled, questioned the difference between the $1.8 million collected in taxes last year and the proposed $2.1 million for 2011. “Where was that $341,195 spent?” he asked.
McCormick said there is $150,000 less in revenue in the budget that was passed. Explaining the shortfall, he said, “We have less excise, surplus, and state revenue sharing, plus the county tax is up.” Next year will be even tougher, he predicted, “because we’ll have no surplus. It’s run out.”
McCormick also said, “We raise no more money than what we spend. The state is very strict on this.”
The mil rate is projected to be 13, down from 17 last year. “We’d love to have a mil rate of 8,” McKeen told Donovan, “but we don’t have the tax base.”
While Donovan said he did not think his properties were overvalued, he noted, “It’s just a big increase all of a sudden. This is going to be difficult for a lot of people.”
Shane Michaud of Blue Goose Lane struck a similar note when he asked about “starting a community petition on the new tax hikes. This increase couldn’t come at a worse time. You’ve got some awful poor people here in Whitefield.”
McCormick said, “It’s not a voting issue.”
Michaud said his property was “all swamp” and “it tripled in value,” from $95,000 to $214,000. McKeen replied that by applying the wetlands rate he should be able to get the amount reduced. The board referred him to the assessors’ agent.
Among tax-acquired properties, there are six taxpayers in arrears on eight properties. Others responded to the July 1 deadline to arrange to make payment plans with the board, McCormick reported.
The board reviewed its list, which includes one property owner’s relinquishment to the town of a landlocked 10-acre parcel off Heath Road. Another, owing back taxes dating from 2007 that total $5000, “might be a candidate for property abatement,” said McCormick.
The board agreed to contact those in arrears for a meeting. The next step will be to put the properties up for sale.
“In all the times we’ve done this, I’ve seen only one piece of property sell. Some owners come in the day the bids are opened,” McCormick said, and they make arrangements then to pay owed taxes.
Code enforcement officer Arthur Strout discovered the violation and that the activity was taking place less than 300 feet from a neighboring well. “That’s the big issue,” said McCormick at this week’s regular meeting. Because of the well’s proximity, neither a junkyard nor car recycling operation is allowed.
Recycling committee chair Dennis Merrill proposed new recyclable products, including rigid plastics (kids’ toys, buckets, totes, pet carriers, coolers, dish drainers, etc.) and other grades of plastic besides the number 2 bottles and jugs the center currently accepts. The county will supply a container to collect the plastics numbered 1, 3, 5 and 7, he said. Merrill will notify the board when both programs are in operation.
Additionally, Merrill offered to build and set up a gate at his own cost to “break some habits,” he said, referring to trash left at the center when the facility isn’t open. “There’s a continual trash problem there,” he noted.
He will also develop a one-page flyer on accepted recyclables to be posted at local stores, the town office, post office, and town website.
The board approved contracting with Crooker for $94,900 to pave Devine Road. The expenditure leaves $35,000 in town coffers for other road expenses in the coming fiscal year.
