EAST MILLINOCKET – East Millinocket residents can expect to see an increase in this year’s tax bills, but the exact amount of the increase won’t be known until a new town value is set.

Administrative Assistant Mary Morris said officials hope to set the new tax rate in October.

She said the town’s appraiser was working on values for Great Northern Paper Inc. and Great Lakes Hydro America, two of the town’s largest taxpayers. “We don’t have values set for those right now,” she said.

Morris said one important component in calculating a tax rate was the total value of the town. “We are not ready,” she said.

During Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting, Selectman Dave Nicholson estimated the new tax rate could be $21.53 per $1,000 of assessed property value. His estimate represents an increase of $2.84 compared with the current rate of $18.69.

Later, Nicholson said his estimate was based on public information from last year’s tax rate calculation sheet and information from the town report.

“I am concerned about the increase,” said Nicholson. “We [the selectmen] have been slow to react to a situation that we have been painfully aware of for a while. I have growing concerns that we are going to look to cut budgets under a crisis situation instead of planning some things.”

Nicholson said this type of increase means officials are going to have to start taking a hard look at town operations in the next few years. “At a minimum, there has to be some serious plans made,” he said.

The selectman said he is not advocating cutting jobs, but said as positions become vacant, officials need to look at whether they should be filled or eliminated.

Meanwhile, Morris said residents could make prepayments on their property taxes. She said the town plans to borrow money in anticipation of receiving tax revenues, so it will be in place if needed.