Veazie mill rate drops, but taxes up because of higher values

VEAZIE – The mill rate in Veazie has decreased but taxes for most residents will go up, said town tax assessor Allan Thomas.

The value of property in Veazie increased significantly this year, which caused the drop in the mill rate.

“Values have increased in the whole area, not just Veazie,” Thomas said. “This year I put house values up a little more than anticipated.”

The mill rate is set at 16.30 per $1,000 of assessed property evaluation.

“That’s still an tax increase because the values went up,” Thomas said. “Overall it [taxes] still went up about 5 to 10 percent.”

Town Manger Bill Reed said Thomas had to re-evaluate the whole town because of the real estate market.

“We projected it [the mill rate] was going to be 16.9 or 17,” he said. “It was quite the shock to see the mill rate decline. Some people are going to be happy and some people are going to be concerned.”

If property taxes continue to increase the town will have to be re-evaluated again next year.

“Last year I raised them and I did so again this year,” Thomas said. “Unless something happens with the market they’ll have to go up again next year. I’d rather see it level out.”

The tax bills for Veazie residents should be in the mail by noon today, according to Thomas. He added that residents who used Homestead exemptions in the past might see a change in their bills this year. Thomas said that because of the state budget crunch, the tax exemption program has changed and many who didn’t pay or who paid a reduced amount might see increased tax bills.