LISBON – Councilors on Tuesday set the fiscal 2009 tax rate at $26.65 per $1,000 valuation, as recommended by Assessor Gerry Samson. That’s up $2.90 over this year’s $23.75.

Tax bills for one-half the total due will be going out within the next two weeks. The total assessment is $13,659,016, which after revenues leaves a net of $9,933,855 to be collected in local taxes.

Broken down, this includes spending $565,432 for county tax; $7,389,047 for municipal government; $5,104,412 for schools; $454,060 for TIF; and $146,065 for overlay, for a total of $13,659,016.

The tax levy is reduced by $1,163,260 in state revenue sharing; $206,279 in homestead reimbursement; $2,303,280 in miscellaneous revenues such as auto excise, tree growth reimbursement, interest income; and $52,342 in Business Equipment Property Tax Exemption reimbursement for a total of $3,725,161, leaving a net amount of $9,933,855 to collected.

In a rule that was developed several years ago by the former Lisbon Taxpayers Association and subsequently adopted by the town, tax bills are sent out twice a year and are due in two equal payments in order to ease the burden of paying taxes in one lump sum.

The first half is due Sept. 15, and the second half is due March 15, 2009. Interest is 9 percent on bills remaining unpaid as of Sept. 16, and March 17, 2009, respectively.