To the Editor:
During this time of year, when town budget committees, boards of selectmen and town administrators are working diligently to craft a budget for their towns, Lincoln County Healthcare employees and administrators are likely to hear concerns that our organizations don’t pay property taxes.
While it’s true our hospital and nursing homes do not pay property tax in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, and our organizations rely heavily on police and fire protection, Lincoln County Healthcare does, in fact, pay property tax for its affiliated organizations and its undeveloped land.
Using Damariscotta as an example, Lincoln County Healthcare organizations pay the most property tax in the town. In fact, at $178,000 (in FY 2014), Lincoln County Healthcare paid almost three times the property tax of the next highest property taxpayer in Damariscotta.
Here are the details: 64 Chapman Street (leased property), $9,813; 8 Belknap Point Rd., $6,434; Chase Point Land, $6,281; Bristol Road land, $6,205; Business Route 1 land, $2,917; Schooner Cove, $91,313; Subtotal: $122,963.
Tax-exempt eligible properties, but paid voluntarily: 39 Miles St. (Orthopaedics Building) $ 11,362; 5 Miles Center Way (Professional Building) $16,239; 24 Miles Center Way (former Women’s Center) $7,758; 76 Schooner St. (Van Winkle Building) $20,270; Subtotal: $55,629.
Total paid to the town of Damariscotta: $178,592
Our organization is very fortunate to have outstanding law enforcement and fire departments in the communities we serve. A few months ago, the Damariscotta Fire Department’s rapid response to a fire at Cove’s Edge potentially prevented a catastrophic fire.
We work closely with both law enforcement and fire departments in our communities. That’s why we have contracts with city and county law enforcement to pay for police services and we purchased a used tanker truck for the Damariscotta Fire Department in the late 1990s when the water main along Main Street was being replaced.
I believe it’s important to note that our organization also provides a significant charitable benefit to the communities we serve. For example, last year we provided $218,000 of free care and wrote off $222,365 of bad debt for Damariscotta residents alone.
We understand that the municipalities in our service area have very serious financial challenges and we sincerely appreciate the high-quality services provided by the towns in our region. I believe the benefits provided by the towns in this region, and provided by our healthcare facilities are best defined through the close working relationships and cooperation we have shared throughout the years.
James W. Donovan, President
Lincoln County Healthcare
Damariscotta
