PERU – Property owners won’t get extra time to pay their tax bills because the law doesn’t allow it, selectmen said Tuesday night.
Last week, residents around Worthley Pond asked for an extension of the due date because of higher than expected bills they had received days before. Some said they could not come up with the extra money by Oct. 1.
Residents said they had always managed to pay their bills on time, and they didn’t know this increase was coming. They said officials should have informed them.
Selectmen supported an extension and said they would investigate the possibility.
On Tuesday, selectmen were given a copy of a letter to Town Clerk Vera Parent from the Maine Municipal Association that said the town may not vote to extend the tax due date once the tax commitment goes to the tax assessor.
Selectmen set the tax rate at $15.30 per $1,000 of assessed property the week of Aug. 22 and mailed bills Aug. 26. Parent explained the town needs much more money than last year because education costs are $200,000 more this year, and the state is funding only part of the Homestead Exemption Act.
Maynard Murphy said he owns a campground and would have to assess his tenants much more to come up with $3,300 extra this year. He also said the East Pond Road was the worst in the state.
Selectman Norman De Roche said the road was due to be redone next year.
The board expressed sympathy for property owners, but said there was nothing legally that could be done.
St. Pierre read a letter from Maine Municipal Association Risk Management Services that announced the town received a $706 dividend from MMA because the town had no insurance claims in the past year.
The board discussed how a town lot near Mill Pond was being used by tenants on adjoining property, and four wheelers were tearing up the road and the property. St. Pierre asked Selectman Kathy Hussy to write a letter to the property owner advising of the situation because of liability on both properties.
Peru is advertising for a new code enforcement officer to replace Mike Boyd who resigned.
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