It’s not Halloween yet, but by now taxpayers in Bethel and Newry have seen something scarier: tax bills that have jumped considerably from last year.

In Bethel, if you paid $1,000 in real estate tax on your home last year, your bill is now $1,480.

In Newry, that $1,000 jumped to $1,310.

The Bethel Board of Assessors didn’t note the increase at its Sept. 10 meeting, which town assessor Rob Duplisea Jr. of RJD Appraisals attended.

On Sept. 16, Bethel Town Manager Sharon Jackson explained that while the tax rate decreased by $3.23 — from $13.95 last year to $10.72 this year — the assessed value has risen.

Newry Town Administrator Loretta Powers said their increase was due to a 50% hike in county taxes and a school district increase.

“The town’s portion increased as we have to pave the roads that were damaged in the December 2023 storm. We did receive (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money for the repairs but not the paving. The town had to raise an extra $500,000 for paving,” Powers said.