SUMNER – A dearth of voters attended Wednesday’s special town meeting, leaving selectmen to decide the two issues on the agenda in their place.

Selectmen voted to change the date from which interest accrues on property taxes from Nov. 23, to Feb. 1, 2004.

That gives taxpayers more than two additional months to pay taxes without penalty. Taxes paid after Feb. 1 will carry a 7 percent interest charge.

Selectmen also voted to appropriate $25,000 from the estimated revenues and the fund balance account to decrease the tax commitment.

The measures were taken because taxes in Sumner will be higher this year than they were last. The town must raise $648,804.33 in property taxes this year compared to $561,644.01 last year. About half of that will pay for education with the rest going to pay for municipal services and the county tax.

Selectmen said the property tax revaluation is not to blame for the higher taxes. Rather, increased spending faces the town.

Sumner’s mill rate is lower this year than it was last year, but property values are higher following the revaluation. In 2002, Sumner residents paid about $19 per $1000 of property value. This year, the mill rate fell to $13.45 per $1000.

Tax bills are being sent out Friday, Oct. 31.

In old business, selectmen noted a letter from the owner of Statewide Fire Equipment. The Fire Department is contesting a bill from the company because of concerns with inspections of the town’s fire trucks.

Assistant Chief Steve McGinty told selectmen that Statewide’s letter doesn’t effectively address their concerns. Selectmen agreed that the owner of the company should be asked to meet with fire officials to resolve the issue.

The swap shop committee will meet at the Town Hall at 7 p.m. Nov. 6, to explore where the swap shop will be and how it will be manned. Selectman Mark Silber said that this project “would benefit the citizens and the pocketbook.”

Polls will be open at the Bisbee-Dyer Municipal Center from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 4.

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