WEST PARIS – Selectmen set the 2003 property tax rate at $15.70 for each $1,000 of valuation, a rate that is down by 50 cents from the $16.20 set in 2002.

According the board Chairman Wade Rainey, the reduction was made possible by the equalization program, which is now complete, done by Tax Appraisers of Maine over the past year.

“This is a mill rate we feel we can live with,” said Rainey, “and it’s good that we were able to lower it some from last year.”

Settling on the new tax rate came after reviewing the following information:

• The Maine state valuation of $70,196,582.

• SAD school assessment of $727,512.

• Local money raised in March of $583,612.

• Oxford County tax of $55,498.

• Total budget amounting to $1,366,622.

• Reductions from revenues and surplus of $300,000.

• Total net to be raised by taxes $1,066,622.

It was also noted by Town Clerk Cheryl Shattenberg that she hopes to have tax bills out by Friday, July 25.

“If all goes well, I should be able to get the tax commitment ready in about a week and be able to send out tax bills by the 26th,” she said.

In other business, Selectmen voted to authorize Shattenberg to pay $3,200 to Tom Stevens of New Castle for the first year of a three-year contract for restoration of the town cemeteries.

Selectman Harlan Abbott said Stevens has finished the work on the Porter Neighborhood Cemetery, which was the most expensive one to restore because it was the hardest to do.

“He can do about three cemeteries for what it cost for Porter,” said Abbott.

The only concern the board had was that only $3,050 was appropriated at the March town meeting for this year, but it was noted that the slight overdraft of $150 will “wash out” during the two remaining years of Stevens’ contract.

The total for the three years equals $9,150.

The board also tabled a request by the town of Sumner to change the Kittridge Brook Road to Kitridge Road.

The issue was tabled in order for selectmen to do further research as they feel the name Kittridge Brook Road was approved by the people at town meeting in 1997 or 1998. If they find that to be the case, the issue will have to go before the voters at town meeting.

Sumner’s request was made because officials there feel the road, which extends into both towns with different names, causes some confusion for emergency squads as house numbering is not consistent throughout the length of the road. They feel that if West Paris changes its end to Kitridge Road, they can pick up the numbering at the town line and continue the same pattern as West Paris.

Selectmen indicated that they have nothing against changing to Kitridge Road, but the people of West Paris should have the final say.

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