STRONG – With the loss of several manufacturing plants in town over the last few years, selectmen said they had no choice but to raise the tax rate Tuesday night.

Property owners will pay $23.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value this year, up from $20.80 last year.

The loss of Strong Wood Products, Cousineau’s saw mill and Forsters has cost the town approximately $100,000 in tax revenue, Selectman Jeff Murphy said. This represents about 15 percent of the town’s annual budget, he said.

The average valuation of a home in Strong is under $50,000, he said.

Taxes on a property valued at $50,000 will pay $1,160 this year, $120 more than last year.

A big chunk of the tax revenue was lost in the personal property taxes of the closed businesses, Murphy said. That amount of money, “can’t be replaced easily,” he continued.

But he said he doesn’t anticipate the tax rate to increase again next year. In fact, he said, he hopes it will drop.