MINOT — Selectmen set this year’s tax rate at $15.70 per $1,000 in property valuation Monday, the same as last year.

A year ago town officials raised property taxes by 60 cents and feared another hike might be required this year, because Minot’s school assessment was projected to go up by about $60,000.

While the exact increase in the school bill won’t be known until RSU 16 voters approve a budget for the current school year, Selectman Eda Tripp said she expects that the rate set Monday will be able to absorb it.

“We had hoped to be able to lower it a bit this year. It has been a particularly difficult year for many property owners,” Tripp said.

Noting that she is the town’s chief assessor and closely monitors property transactions in town, Tripp said she has seen between 20 and 30 properties going into foreclosure during the past 18 months.

That figure compares to a normal rate of one or two properties a year going into foreclosure, she said.

“I’ve been doing this since 1999 and I’ve never seen so many. It’s just awful,” Tripp said.

This year the town will be raising $2,524,303 through property taxes. The town must come up with a total of $3,104,303.

From that amount, $1,277,851 will support town departments, while the county tax assessment is $189,530 and the school bill has been estimated at $1,636,922.