FARMINGTON – Selectmen approved a new tax rate Tuesday evening, following the recommendations of Town Manager Richard Davis and Treasurer Lucy Ann Cook and holding the rate below $20 per $1,000 of property valuation.
The rate was set at $19.98 per $1,000 of valuation, with an overlay just under $38,600. That figure, representing an increase of $3,299 over last year’s allotment, is used to cover abatements. That overlay wasn’t a high amount, according to Cook.
“We’re healthy, but we’re not that healthy,” Cook said.
Increasing the tax rate by five cents would add $25,000 to the overlay account, which the board decided against. Davis said the town hasn’t been over $20 per $1,000 of property valuation since before 2014. As it stands, the $19.98 represents an increase of 41 cents from last year but only 4 cents compared to 2017.
“I would call that a pretty stable tax rate,” Davis said.
Tuesday’s approval included an appropriation of $65,000 into the Tax Increment Financing account, targeting a total of $125,000. The account currently has about $61,000 in it, Davis said.
In other news, Davis requested permission to explore leasing a portion of a closed landfill to a solar project, specifically NextEra Energy who is currently working on installing the state’s largest solar power project in Farmington. The town has experience with the company, he said, but said he is happy to reach out to other companies as well. If the project went through it could bring in $25,000 a year to the town, leasing about 82.5 acres of cleared, unused property. It could also potentially supply power to the transfer station, Davis said.
Lastly, a special town meeting will be held on Sept. 10 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Community Center at 127 Middle Street. The meeting will address the transfer of two small parcels of property that could be used to construct a sidewalk. It will also allow for a vote on the discontinuation of the Stinchfield Road.
Farmington has some of the worst taxes around. Of course it’s going up…y’ain’t seen NOTHING yet, LOL!
We should discontinue mills trailer park to the town doesn’t plow any other trailer park
It’s something I mentioned long ago, why are we not expanding our sidewalk to Walmart ? If you have traveled that road after 10am you would see families trying to walk towards town and it’s only a slip away. Don’t build it all at once but piece bye piece. Josh, Steve, Mike, Matt, and Scott are you going to be the ones on the board when something terrible happens? Are you going to be able to sleep whole again?
@Ryan morgan,from one who has been able to keep up with our tax bills,I suggest if walmart wants a sidewalk then donations from them would be welcome.If the town were to add a sidewalk our thrifty selection would not be able to keep our mil rate below 20.For safety, shop in town, better for all.