POLAND – Residents can expect their new property tax bills before the end of the month without much sticker shock.

Selectmen set the tax rate Tuesday at $19 per $1,000 of assessed value. That amount differs by pennies from the projected amount at May’s annual town meeting, and marks an increase of a quarter from last year’s rate of $18.75.

Having already looked at the numbers at a previous meeting, selectmen unanimously and officially set the rate without discussion.

Assessing clerk Sue Goss said tax bills can now be prepared.

Residents need to pay the first half of their tax bill by Oct. 1, and interest begins to accrue at 6.5 percent on Nov. 1, said Goss. The second half comes due April 1 with interest starting May 1.

Steve Robinson, serving as chairman Tuesday in the absence of Glenn Peterson, announced that voters had authorized about $9.5 million to be spent for local municipal and education purposes, in addition to Poland’s assessment to Androscoggin County.

The budget and town warrant earlier this year anticipated a higher expenditure of $9.6 million. After adjustments and more accurate state numbers since the town vote, selectmen certified the following appropriations:

• $3,663,791 for municipal purposes.

• $5,387,046 for kindergarten through grade 12.

• $24,000 for adult education.

• $496,439 for county tax assessment.

An earlier projection of revenues offsetting property taxes was $1.8 million. On Tuesday, revenues from such sources as state revenue sharing, excise taxes and Recreation Department fees totaled $1.9 million. That leaves a local tax burden of about $7.6 million.

The town’s revenue includes $100,000 known as the Walker property bond proceeds, money that was approved in a past town meeting to buy property abutting the old Town Hall and Ricker Memorial Library. After the purchase option for the property ran out, voters this year approved spending the money on capital improvements.