LISBON – There will be no interest or penalties on property tax bills for the remainder of the fiscal year. The town assessor has been fired.

Whether any of that will help ease outrage among taxpayers remains to be seen. With tax bills still 10 percent heftier than they were the previous year, more anxiety is expected.

At a meeting Tuesday night, town councilors voted unanimously to do away with interest and penalties, but taxpayers complain that they are still left with bills they may not be able to pay.

The flap began in recent weeks when tax bills were delivered and townspeople found they owed $500 or $1,000 more than expected.

One councilor suggested that taxpayers skip paying their bills. Others complained that they were not kept in the loop when it was discovered that Dingley Press was overvalued. Many called for the ouster of Town Manager Steve Eldridge.

Wearily, town leaders said at the Tuesday night meeting that there is nothing they can do to remedy the situation, even though they now know what went wrong.

Pat Dow, an assessor hired by Eldridge years ago, was discharged from his duties on Monday, the town manager announced.

Dow could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

There was one piece of news on which everyone agreed Tuesday night: The next meeting will be held in a larger facility to accommodate the 100-plus residents who have turned out for recent sessions.

Eldridge and Town Council Chairman Michael Bowie on Wednesday did not return telephone and e-mail messages.