BUCKFIELD — Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed eight warrant articles, including one to move the due date for paying the first half of property taxes.

The articles passed comfortably with support of between 74% and 92% of the 162 voters.

The main purpose for Tuesday’s vote at the polls was to correct a discrepancy in the budgeted amount between the town warrant and the official ballot on three articles passed at the Sept. 28 town meeting. Those discrepancies invalidated the vote on those three articles, even though all three passed.

The debt service account for $137,811.53 passed, 49-13. Voters also supported a $201,791 budget for winter roads, 48-14, and $413,321 for summer roads, 46-16.

They also approved $52,228 in additional state revenues, which was the difference between the amount listed on the town warrant and the September ballot. That passed, 55-6.

Residents will not face accrued interest charges from the incorrect tax bills sent out by the town with a Nov. 15 due date. Residents who paid the first half of their taxes were facing interest costs for the difference for what the tax bill should have been.

Article 4 asked voters to move the due date for the first half of taxes to 30 days after the commitment date. That passed, 56-5.

The town had rushed the tax rate calculation in order to get tax bills ready before the due date. The whole process had been delayed because the municipal budget was not approved by residents until late September. Normally, that vote is held during the summer.

After the tax bills were sent out, town officials discovered that it miscalculated the property tax rate, a measurement that determines what residents need to pay per $1,000 of assessed value, by including exemption values in the taxable valuation line, according to Town Manager Lorna Nichols. What was initially announced as a $3 dip in the rate should have actually been an increase of approximately $1 from last year’s rate.

Voters also supported disbanding the Board of Assessors, 46-16, and appropriating $5,000 to contract with a certified assessor for the remainder of the fiscal year through June 30, by a vote of 52-10.

The other article dealing with increasing the property tax limit was left off the September ballot and is required by Maine law. Voters approved that question, 47-14.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Oxford County arrest log: Jan. 26, 2022

Next »

Horse barn destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon in Paris