POLAND – The property tax-cap referendum went down in defeat, but the town’s revenue pressures remain and have prompted the search for expert help in developing local business and spreading the tax base.

“The tax cap may have failed, but this issue isn’t going to go away,” said Town Manager Richard Chick. “We’re still going to deal with providing services while at the same time keeping taxes down.”

Two consulting firms recently submitted competing proposals for preparing a comprehensive inventory of town assets and developing strategies for potential economic development.

Poland selectmen decided during their last regular board meeting to invite PolicyOne Research Inc. of Portland and Community Dynamics of Auburn to a joint Nov. 30 session of selectmen and the town’s Planning Board, Chick said.

Town officials will interview representatives from the two firms before deciding who will get the job, budgeted between $10,000 and $12,000, according to the town’s request for proposals.

Community Dynamics has been in business since 1986 and works primarily with municipalities, said John Cleveland, a partner in the firm. He said that the firm often helps communities secure financing for their projects and has written several successful grants.

“We really try to work in a way that is sensitive to what the community would like to achieve,” said Cleveland. “It depends on the focus of a particular community. Sometimes we help with a specific project, and sometimes we focus on making recommendations on the kinds of economic development that might be likely or appropriate.”

PolicyOne is a two-year-old company that formed when Jim Damicis and his partner Mavourneen Thompson branched out on their own after working as consultants with other firms, said Damicis.

The Portland firm recently conducted a study for the Maine Municipal Association on how the recently defeated tax-cap referendum would affect 10 typical Maine towns, including Poland’s neighbor Mechanic Falls.

Damicis also was involved in developing the joint tax increment financing policy for the towns of Auburn and Lewiston several years ago.

“What we stressed in our proposal for Poland was building on the idea that Poland is a small community with its No. 1 asset being water in terms of recreation and drinking water,” said Damicis. “We would want to look at how best to use that resource while at the same time protecting it. We would look at smaller scale development because it wouldn’t make sense to jeopardize the town’s biggest asset.”

Meanwhile, the town’s Planning Board has embarked on overhauling Poland’s Comprehensive Use Plan by updating data and compiling ordinance and policy changes made over the past 10 years. Plans are in the works to begin next year to review current ordinances and zoning.

Whichever firm gets the contract will be asked to perform four major tasks for the town. The formal request for proposals asks for an evaluation of several existing economic factors such as the current tax base, growth trends and property uses.

The second task calls for a review of the town’s general purpose zones and the potential for business in those areas.

The town also is asking for a realistic assessment of where utilities such as public water, sewer and electricity can be developed. The final task would be to recommend a strategy for marketing any developable water resources.