NEW GLOUCESTER – A lower tax rate will greet taxpayers when bills are mailed at the end of the week.
Town Manager Rosemary Kulow said Monday that the rate set by selectmen last week is $10 per $1,000 of assessed value, $1.55 less than last year.
Therefore, a home valued at $150,000 will see a $1,500 bill. Property tax revenues pay for municipal services, the town’s portion of funding SAD 15, and the Cumberland County tax.
Selectmen were able to keep the tax rate lower based on a higher assessed municipal valuation, a higher school subsidy payment by the state and a small increase passed on through county budget taxes.
The total amount that must be raised by taxpayers is $3,802,505. Local tax real estate valuation for New Gloucester totals $373,722,050. Personal property valuations in town total $11,129,450.
A Tax Increment Financing district that governs Pineland Center gives the town $235,434 in taxes that may be used to fund costly effects from the development of the large business park and farming operation. Taxes are due Oct. 8 and in April 2006.
In other business, selectmen continue to review two bids to install a security system at the Town Hall in Lower Gloucester. Protection One of Portland submitted a bid of $8,103, and Norris Inc. of South Portland bid $10,794. Annual fire inspections, monitoring and maintenance are included in the offers after installation of a system. Selectmen will take action on Sept. 12.
And five bids are under review to replace and paint the wood siding on the Meeting House in Lower Gloucester. Bids were received from Mike Francis at $28,890, which will increase when a coat of paint is added. In addition, Benchmark submitted a bid of $49,245 and Fortin Construction $48,780.
The project is budgeted at $60,000, Kulow said. Selectmen are expected to take action on Sept. 12.
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