FARMINGTON – After weighing the options, selectmen set this year’s tax rate at $18.80 per $1,000 worth of property at their meeting Tuesday night. The new mil rate is an increase of $1.48 per $1,000 worth of property or $148 per $100,000 property valuation, which represents an 8.54 percent increase.
The town’s assessor, John O’Donnell of O’Donnell & Associates, Inc., provided selectmen with various options that took into account increases in the county appropriation and the school district share amount, along with the town’s overall budget increase for public works road projects.
The town’s county appropriation increased this fiscal year by $31,466 over the last fiscal year to total $498,836.25. The Mt. Blue Regional School District amount went up over last year by $396,791 to total $4,560,152.50. The five-year Public Works plan approved by voters at annual town meetings to rebuild and/or repave the town’s neediest roads provided the additional increase in the municipal budget of $318,072 over the last fiscal year for a budget total of $5,338,884.
In settling on a tax rate, selectmen also had to take into account the amount to set aside as an overlay and for the tax increment financing districts’ total.
Last year only $1,800 in overlay was added to the town’s fund balance.
The balance is “lower than it should be,” said Town Manager Richard Davis on Wednesday. Assessor O’Donnell advised appropriating $51,414.71 towards the overlay. Selectmen decided to cut that amount by $25,000, for the remaining balance of $26,414.71 designated as overlay and shift the $25,000 into the TIF accounts.
By doing that, the downtown TIF amount is kept nearly level with last year at $94,548.97, which has been earmarked to fund a new parking lot project on Church Street. Another $3,440.13 was appropriated to the Franklin Printing TIF account.
Davis noted the tax increase will be a hardship for some property owners.
“Nobody likes to see a tax increase,” he said and advised those who will have trouble making the payment to seek help through the state’s Property Tax Fairness Credit. Information on the program can be found here.
Davis noted that increases in the tax rate seen this year and the last fiscal year may not be needed next year.
“It’s our hope we’ve reached the point of tax stabilization,” he said and added prior to two years ago the tax rate had remained flat with no or little increase in prior years.
In other matters, selectmen awarded the low bidder, Dave’s World Modern Energy Solutions of of Windham to add heat and air conditioners to three of the Municipal Building’s offices and the conference room. The spaces are in need of air system repair. Of the three bids received, Dave’s World Modern Energy Solutions came in the lowest at $15,096.75.
Although a majority of selectmen voted to approve an 80,000-pound vehicle weight limit on Porter Hill, they plan to revisit the issue at a future meeting. Voting in favor were selectmen Joshua Bell, Stephan Bunker and Michael Fogg, with Selectman Matt Smith opposed and Selectman Andy Buckland absent.
Porter Hill is undergoing a major rebuilding project this summer. By law, selectmen can impose weight restrictions on roads they wish to protect from abuse. The board was asked to consider a permanent weight limit on the road. Davis said after the vote, the selectmen’s board chair, Bell, wanted to bring the issue up for further consideration.
Taxes go up and those of us on the outskirts of town get no benefits like those in town, yet we sill pay the same rate! How is this fair? I want street lights, cross walks, sidewalk care (cleaned, shoveled and maintained, year round!) fire hydrants (for safety and for my house insurance to go down). I want my streets cleaned like those in town too, none of this just clean the ends and call it good!
Also, my taxes showed no difference with the “Tax Fairness Credit” when I claim my property taxes. I have tried for years, meet all the guidelines and even have my taxes done professionally so I know it’s done right!
If you don’t like the increase and didn’t vote on the school budget maybe next time you should.
The budget passed by around 100 votes big increase and all.
The liberal management in Farmington just can’t help themselves; got to keep spending! Residents and especially businesses will soon hit a breaking point and there will be nothing left but old people and the knit hat crowd. And neither can support much of a tax base.
Don’t much care to hear it again, same old story more taxes and I voted on the school budget also. Death and Taxes can’t cheat them.
I did vote!
THNK ABOUT THIS!!! The article says the county appropriation has gone up $31,000. The county resides in Farmington. There are numerous buildings; county courthouse, jail and the others adjacent; several parking lots, a couple of green spaces. Did you ever look at the amount they are “forgiven” in the form of tax exempt property? THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS!!! But tax payers in Farmington plow the roads, provide street lights and all the other stuff tax payers get, but the county buildings get it for FREE. THEN they make us pay county taxes? I think that’s double dipping! I think it’s time the TOWN goes to the County and institute some negotiations for some kind of relief. OR..the county should pay some taxes. Other than some random support the Town Police get from the County Officers, Farmington Taxpayers are paying for everything other townships get – plowing, road maintenance etc.
Hmmm. How much does UMF reimburse the town for services??
“Its our hope we’ve reached the point of tax stabilization”. Now that is just plain funny. Come on guys do you think anyone with a pulse believes that? Good for a laugh though, thanks.
UMF and the Hosp. give the town NOTHING! Zero! Zip!
Farmington’s non-profits drain the town’s coffers to the tune of MILLIONS of TAX DOLLARS.
When the non-profits exceed 30% (according to the town – but it’s actually more) and the town’s
budget borders on $10 MIL including the school’s contribution, you can see why the town HAS
to tax private tax payers to subsidize those who don’t pay.
Nancy, you are exactly right, and every town in the Country struggles with the same issues. There is no fairness in the system anymore, and most of it comes from people not getting involved and recognizing that these freebiees have to stop. We all have a stake in the costs of running town’s, Counties, as well as our State. It’s very easy to Monday morning Q-Back but the truth is that if we don’t all participate with these issues, it will never get any better. I will say that I would hate to see Farmington give up the County Seat and have to go to Coburn Gore to a County Comminsiors meeting.
I commend you fro your honest and upright thought’s