JAY – Selectmen voted Monday to set the property tax rate at $16.30 per $1,000 valuation, a 40 cent increase over last year.

Town Manager Ruth Marden suggested a rate of $16.40 to ensure the town has the same overlay of $425,000 as last year. Selectmen were cautious in their efforts and aware of the potential problems that the Palesky property tax referendum in November could produce. Selectmen agreed that the statewide decision could potentially cause a “financial crisis” for the town.

The new tax rate will ensure an overlay of more than $340,000 for the coming year, with an increase of $500,000 for this year.

In other business, selectmen heard from resident Rae Ellen Roy regarding a request for funding for a new 6-foot chain-link fence to surround the playground area of the soon-to-be refurbished playing fields.

Roy asked selectmen for $1,875 to cover the purchase of 180 feet of chain-link fence, including a gate and installation.

The fence issue was raised because of concerns about all-terrain vehicles within the playing field, and the need for playing space for young children. Roy cited several instances of head injuries to her child because of the currently congested playground, which is partly asphalt.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Roy. “This is not just for my own children, but more about the injuries sustained that could easily be avoided.”

With the support of Superintendent Robert Wall, Roy also asked the board to appropriate the $1,875 from the town budget, due to the lack of funds in the school budget.

Roy, the mother of two children in the Jay school system and a member in the Jay PTO, also stressed the urgency of completing the field project. The project is scheduled to be completed Aug. 31, but Roy considers it an “unrealistic” time table due to scheduling concerns with the excavation.

After some debate on where the money would come from, Marden suggested the selectmen appropriate the funds from the supply line of the existing summer recreation budget.