FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners set the tax rate Thursday at $1.21 per $1,000 of property value for 2017-18 to cover an assessment of $5.26 million and a $30,001 overlay.

The tax rate is an increase of 4 cents over the 2016-17 fiscal year. 

Contributing to the increase is the county’s total state valuation, including the unorganized territory, dropped by $152,100 to make it $4.37 billion. Of that amount, county towns and organized plantations are valued at $4 billion. Most of that decrease is attributed to the town of Jay’s valuation decreasing by $166.35 million.

The unorganized territory is valued at $330 million, down from $347.9 million for the current year.

Overall there were 10 towns and plantations that increased in value and 11 that lost value.  

Seeing the largest increase in valuation was Carthage. It went up $13.25 million with most of it attributed to Patriot Renewables’ 12-wind turbine operation, Saddleback Ridge Wind.

Commissioners set Sept. 1 for when the first half of taxes are due and Feb. 1, 2018, for the second payment.

Prior to setting the tax rate, commissioners approved an overall budget of $6.21 million, $109,636 more than 2016-17. 

The Budget Advisory Committee approved the budget Wednesday night. They also approved $20,785 for stipends and associated costs of FICA and workers’ compensation for 33 nonunion employees. The stipends alone added up to $19,250 for nonunion workers working with commissioners to change the personnel policy. The change decreases the amount of accrued paid time-off workers can receive.

Commissioners voted Tuesday to give nonunion employees a stipend of $750 for those who have worked for the county more than five years, $500 for those who have worked less than five years, and $250 for part-time workers. 

The stipends alone came to $19,250, Financial Manager Vickie Braley said, not including insurances. 

The county also factored in $158,000 from undesignated funds, instead of the normal $100,000, to cover capital projects at the courthouse, including fixing the tower clock, and paying for the cost of the stipend expenses to lower the tax assessment.

Nonunion employees are expected to see their stipends in  July.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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