JAY – Assessors discussed a proposal Monday that would give a $1,600 property value depreciation to those not on the town’s sewer system. It would be an effort to have those using the town’s sewer system pay for it.

Assessors decided to table the issue until March 15 to get more information.

Selectmen, who are also the assessors, rejected an effort to raise the sewer users fee from $175 to $195 for each unit in January.

Currently the remaining cost of wastewater treatment is picked up by all taxpayers, a practice that rankled some people not having the benefit of town sewer.

Assessment practices now add $1,000 in valuation to a property that has a septic system and a $2,000 in valuation to a property on town sewer.

Selectman Ray Pineau said he thought it would be fair to septic users if they got more of a break.

If all land not on town sewer was depreciated $1,600, it would make it so properties on town sewer would pay for the system, Sewer Department Superintendent Mark Holt said.

There are 1,946 properties in Jay not on town sewer and 792 properties, which equal about 1,155 units, on town sewer.

Taxpayers not on sewer would pay about $25.30 less on their tax bills, Holt said.

Homeowners on the sewer system would pay a total of nearly $70,000 through taxation to cover remaining costs to operate the system in addition to sewer user fees.

“It’s not perfect but it’s better,” Holt said. “It’s the easiest best way we’ve come up to do this.”

A farmer who owned 200 or 300 acres of land not on town sewer would only see a $1,600 valuation depreciation for that property, Holt said.

The amount of the depreciation would have to be set each year prior to setting the sewer rates, Holt said.

Selectman Barry McDonald said he didn’t know if the $25.30 less for a nonsewer user was enough of a reduction.

Town Manager Ruth Marden said the city of Portland just got into trouble for giving a tax exemption without going through the Legislature.

This would be considered functional obsolescence depreciation.

Being on the sewer system is a real value to a home, Marden said.

When you value land and you connect to the sewer system you’re adding value, she said. When you connect to a septic system you’re adding less value, she said.

“I think we’re opening a real can of worms,” she said.

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