NEW GLOUCESTER – Property tax bills mailed this week show a lower tax rate than last year.

The rate set by selectmen of $9.65 per $1,000 of assessed value is 35 cents less than 2005-06. It is enough to cover the costs of municipal, county and SAD 15. The rate means a home valued at $250,000 is taxed $2,412.50.

Assessors’ agent Nancy G. Pinette told selectmen recently that the taxable real estate value of New Gloucester is now $411 million, an increase of $37 million from last year. She said in a memo to the board that $15 million represents new construction, and the remaining $21 million is due to land value increases in all areas except lake and commercial zones.

She added that the Pineland value is $8.8 million, a significant decrease from the previous year but more accurate.

Taxable personal property value throughout the town also increased from $3.6 million to $14.7 million. The personal property at Pineland increased to $1.4 million.

In all, the town must raise $6,736,305 as follows: Cumberland County government $210,401; municipal government, $3,474,551; tax-increment financing district at Pineland; $172,038, and SAD 15, $2,879,315.