Rumford budget drives nearly $3 tax rate increase

RUMFORD — The Board of Assessors has set the 2014-15 tax rate at $26.95, which is up from $24 for the previous fiscal year, member Linda French said Tuesday afternoon.

She said the rate took a long time to set because the board had to wait for a final signature from Brookfield Power on a tax document agreement in which the company will pay more in tax.

But, French said, the nearly $3 hike was primarily because of the town’s budget, which was up $1.1 million.

She said she was glad that the rate didn’t hit $30. During previous selectmen meetings this year, that amount was repeatedly projected by one selectman and a few other residents.

“We’re up slightly and we’re pleased with it,” French said. “Of course, you always want it lower, but it’s nowhere near $30.”

At the selectmen’s Sept. 4 meeting, Madigan said the taxable value townwide this year is $558,587,983. Last year, before the tax rate was set, it was $553,938,770, he said.

At that meeting, after learning that the tax rate wouldn’t likely be set until after Sept. 17, selectmen voted 5-0 to push the due date for taxes from Oct. 1 to Nov. 3.

That set the stage for Monday’s special town meeting, at which voters approved extending the taxes-due date to Nov. 3, Selectman Brad Adley said late Tuesday afternoon.

Adley said he didn’t know when tax bills would be sent out and wasn’t aware the new rate had been set.

In June, town meeting referendum voters approved almost everything in the proposed $7.75 million municipal budget.

Voters also approved the proposed $36.2 million RSU 10 budget.

In the municipal budget, voters defeated the proposed General Assistance budget of $93,406. Selectmen then pared $28,406 from it and voters on July 22 approved the $65,000 budget.

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