MEXICO – Selectmen are expected to explain this week how the town arrived at figures in the 2004 property tax bills recently mailed to residents.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Town Office. The first hour will be devoted to reviewing the town’s recently completed audit. At 6:30 p.m., the regular board meeting will begin.

Tax bills for most property owners increased, despite a decline in the tax rate, because the town increased the valuation of all properties by 10 percent, said town officials. That was done to compensate for an overdue property revaluation, they said.

The tax rate declined from $28.80 per $1,000 valuation to $28.50 per $1,000.

Other agenda items include a discussion and possibly a decision on how to dispose of several Mexico Police Department cruisers, establishing a date for the annual evaluation of the town manager, a report on the results of the River Valley Expo, and awarding the contract for the purchase of winter sand.

The board is also expected to take up again the proposed Palesky tax-cap referendum question. Selectmen have not taken a stand on the matter.