Cooper

The annual town meeting and elections will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, March 31, at the Cathance Grange Hall.

Residents will consider a proposed budget of approximately $140,000 to operate their town and pay $25,000 in county taxes.

The town expects to spend about $360,000 this year for those expenses, including a projected cost of $220,000 for education.

Jonathan Reisman, first selectman, said Wednesday that without the $67,000 road project in last year’s budget, the proposed budget reflected flat overall spending.

Town officials are asking residents to spend $65,000, which is the same amount as last year for roads, and for administrative expenses, $20,000.

Insurance costs are up about 30 percent.

Reisman said the town was looking at a tax increase of 20 percent to 25 percent that could raise the tax rate of $19.40 per $1,000 in property valuation to $24. The increase would fund education costs.

A higher mill rate along with increased property values would provide most of the revenues to pay the town’s bills, said Reisman.

He said state-assessed values had increased rapidly in Cooper, adding significant pressure on town assessment.

According to the selectman, Cooper’s state-assessed value had increased faster than the state average, causing a big drop in state aid to schools.

That drop, coupled with having more children in town, is cited as the source of all the financial problems, he said.

Last year, the total amount of taxation was raised 30 percent, of which 15 percent came from millage and the remainder from increased property values, he said.

He explained that the value of waterfront property on Cathance Lake had increased more than 50 percent over the last five years.

“We are facing the same problems a lot of other towns are, compounded by a growing school population,” said Reisman. “That is both a problem and an opportunity.”

The town of about 135 residents has more than 30 children who attend schools of their choice in Baileyville, Alexander, Machias, East Machias or Calais.

At the town meeting, voters will fill one-year terms in these offices: first selectman, held by Jonathan Reisman; second selectman, held by Travis Hull; third selectman, held by Jeffrey Crowe; first assessor, held by Justin Day; second assessor, held by Norman Howe; third assessor, held by Travis Hull; treasurer, tax collector and clerk, all held by held by Kathleen Hull.

A three-year term on the Cooper school board, held by Ernestine Reisman, also is available.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery