RUMFORD – Property owners will pay a little less tax this year thanks to a slight increase in municipal revenues.

Town Manager Robert Welch said the tax rate has been set at $18.63 per $1,000 valuation, down from $19. That means the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will pay $37 less in taxes this year than last.

He said the town had slightly more undesignated or carryover funds to apply to the total $11.59 million that must be raised by taxation this year, along with a slight increase in revenues. The town raised $11.84 million in taxes last year. This year’s overall budget, including taxes paid to SAD 43 and to Oxford County, came in at $14.365 million.

The new rate reflects a trend the town has held to for several years.

“We’ve been pretty steady for the past 10 years. This rate is the best we can do for what we provide for services,” he said. “We’re lucky to have a little more revenues.”

All municipal programs and all employees will remain.

Tax bills should be in the mail on Tuesday.

The first half of property taxes must be paid by Oct. 1 without penalty. The second half is due on April 1. A rate of 6.5 percent interest will be assessed for all taxes not paid by the due dates.