LIVERMORE – Local taxpayers should receive their 2003-04 bills this week and they should show little change from last year as the rate remains the same, set by selectpersons at 19.5 mills.

One change that all property owners will see is an increase on their bills as they will not receive their full $7,000 Homestead Exemption.

Based on the town’s certified ratio of 89 percent, which will be corrected to 100 percent after the revaluation is completed, 565 homeowners with less than a $125,000 valuation will receive only a $6,230 Homestead Exemption.

Figures provided by Administrative Assistant Kurt Schaub indicate this change in ratio will cost taxpayers $8.19.

Eighty-four homeowners with properties that fall in the $125,000 to $250,000 range, using that same ratio, will receive only $4,450 in exemption. Two taxpayers have homes valued at over $250,000 and they will receive only $2,225 for their exemption.

The first portion of the tax payment is due by Nov. 17 and the second by April 15, 2004, according to town meeting vote.

The gates closing off the Batten Road have been unlocked by the town as the owners were advised by their attorney not to do so from a liability standpoint.

It now appears that, as the road has been discontinued to town maintenance for many years, there is no liability issue to the town. Anyone choosing to use the road is pretty much on their own, Schaub said.

During discussion at last week’s board meeting, Dennis Mancine said rocks have been placed in the path of a road that works its way around the sand mining operation. He added that this was wrong as passage would otherwise have been possible.

It was pointed out, however, that the road around the mining operation was recently created and was not part of the original road.

The owners have indicated they will repair the road per the original agreement, when the sand mining operation is complete.

In other business, a proposal by David and Warren Small to assist with plowing on River Road and Route 108 was referred to the Road Committee, which will meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11.

The town has met with a landowner who allegedly is using a backhoe on a small brook and is cutting vegetation to make a lawn to the brook. The matter will be taken to the Department of Environmental Protection.

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