Houlton council to hear tax rate

HOULTON – A discussion of the town’s soon-to-be-established mill rate and the possibility of using some of the municipality’s surplus funds to offset the tax burden are both issues that will come before the Town Council on Monday evening.

Laureen Bither, the town’s tax assessor, told councilors last month that she expected the mill rate to go down because of the recent completion of a municipal revaluation.

Town Manager Douglas Hazlett stood by that theory earlier this week.

“We are going to hear the mill rate on Monday night,” he confirmed, “And it is going to go down because of the revaluation.”

The town’s current mill rate is 26.5 mills per $1,000 of valuation, Town Clerk Cathy O’Leary said Friday.

The town approved the revaluation process in May 2003, and William Van Tuinen Tax Appraisal Services conducted the $160,000 study.

The council’s agenda also includes a motion to transfer an undisclosed amount of money from the town’s undesignated fund for the purpose of reducing taxes.

Many town councilors urged the move last month, after being told during a meeting that the town had $1.4 million in surplus at the time of the municipality’s annual audit.

Councilor Paul Romanelli said that he did not have a problem with withdrawing a few hundred thousand dollars from the account for tax relief. Councilors Phil Bernaiche and Carl Lord agreed.

The town’s auditor agreed that the move was feasible, but cautioned against draining the coffers excessively.

Councilors will discuss setting an amount Monday evening.