TURNER — The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday evening to raise the tax rate to $16.86 per thousand dollars of assessed property value for 2016-17.

The rise is due in large part to SAD 52 getting less state funding because of declining enrollment. Turner’s share of the school budget for 2016-17 is up 5.53 percent, according to documents provided by Town Manager Kurt Schaub at Tuesday’s meeting.

Another factor in the tax increase is the Homestead Exemption, which went from $10,000 to $15,000. 

Additionally, Turner will pay $517,320 to Androscoggin County, an increase of 4.13 percent over last  year.

In other business, Rescue Chief Lisa Bennett, with the assistance of rescue crew members Josh Labonte and Shaun Lavoie, demonstrated the use of a Stryker stretcher for selectmen. The cot can lift up to 750 pounds, and allows two people to lift from one side. Labonte attested to the back-saving effectiveness of the stretcher.

The board unanimously voted to purchase one for the right price.

Board members voted unanimously to hire Dixfield Foam Insulation to install 4.5 inches of insulation under the roof of the Rescue Barn. Fire Chief Rodney Guptill agreed to save the town removal and disposal costs by turning the project into a training event for his crew. The project will cost $23,788.

Hannaford supermarket in Turner will donate $1 to Turner Rescue for every recyclable grocery bag through September. The bags cost $2.29.

The board voted unanimously to make Tom Tempesta the deputy animal control officer, a position he has been helping with. He will perform his duties at no cost to the town.