Livermore tax rate climbs 75 cents

LIVERMORE — Selectpersons set the tax rate Monday at $15.90 per $1,000 of property valuation for 2009, which is 75 cents more than last year.

On a $100,000 home that means the tax bill will increase by $75, not factoring in any exemptions.

The increase is attributed to the higher local cost of education, Kurt Schaub, select board administrator assistant, said Tuesday. In 2008, the town's share of the SAD 36 school district was $1.65 million, and this year it is $1.8 million, Schaub said.

The town's portion of the taxes is virtually unchanged, he said.

The net municipal budget is $971,827, prior to other governmental state revenue and excise taxes.

Last year, the amount of taxes needed to support the municipal budget was $489,000, and this year, the amount needed is $499,000, he said.

Lower than anticipated state and excise tax revenues were offset by general municipal receipts which were higher than projected, Schaub said. So revenues were off by about $5,000.

The town also was able to use $102,000 in surplus to reduce taxes, he said.

The town had $153 million in taxable valuation this year, which is up about $1.8 million due to new buildings, additions and other projects, Schaub said.

"I think the town did its level best to control expenses last year knowing this year is going to a difficult one," he said. "I believe and selectpersons believe we've accomplished that."

Tax bills will be mailed within 10 days.

In other business Monday, the board authorized Schaub to contact the town's attorney in reference to a drainage problem on private property on Goding Road. He said water is running off that property onto the road, and the board has some concerns about it continuing during the winter. There have been complaints from residents about the situation, Schaub said.

The board also agreed to continue closing the town office at noon on Fridays through the end of September due to extended medical leave of a staff member.

In another matter, a pre-bid meeting for contractors for the Norlands Road project will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at the town office. The project entails doing reconstruction, drainage improvements and surface preparation work on about 9,000 feet of the road.

Any extended work on the road will depend on what is left over for funds after this portion of the project is done, Schaub said.

dperry@sunjournal.com