BELFAST — The Waldo County commissioners have set the 1995 county mill rate at $10.20, down from last year’s rate of $10.47.

The tax rate came in lower than last year despite a $112,000 increase in the annual budget over the previous year. The application of surplus funds, additional revenues and the deauthorization of bridge accounts accounted for the drop. An increase in county property values also contributed to the lower rate.

The reduced tax rate should be welcomed by most communities in light of last year’s record tax increase of 20 percent. That hefty levy was needed to fund a $1.9 million budget that was 14 percent higher than the county’s 1993 spending package.

Based on figures accumulated by County Clerk Marilyn Keene, the lower mill rate will reduce taxes in 15 of the county’s 26 municipalities. The county seat of Belfast will be the biggest winner, as its tax obligation will be $9,137 lower than last year. Other beneficiaries of the lower rate will be Searsport, which will see a reduction of $6,761; Stockton Springs, $3,152; and Montville, $3,032.

At the other end of the ledger, Swanville will see its share of county costs increase $3,615, due to an 11.5 percent hike in state valuation. Palermo will jump $3,119, due to an 8 percent increase in its valuation.

To accomplish its reduced mill rate, the county commissioners predicted $463,000 in revenues for the coming year. In 1994, the revenue estimate was set at $390,000, though the county actually collected $512,000. The commissioners also agreed to apply $30,000 of the $39,000 year-end surplus to this year’s budget, reducing the tax bite even further.

In a final bit of financial juggling, the commissioners de-authorized $27,250 of the bridge account debt. The county owes that account $107,000 which was borrowed to balance earlier budgets. Had the commissioners decided to repay the borrowing from the budget, it would have resulted in a form of double taxation.

The following is a breakdown of the individual communities whose share of the commissioners’ $1,609,662 tax commitment will be lowered:

Belfast, $271,983, a decrease of $9,137 from last year’s tax of $281,120.

Brooks, $29,325, a decrease of $1,666 from last year’s tax of $30,991.

Burnham, $37,332, a decrease of $2,035 from last year’s tax of $39,367.

Frankfort, $25,449, a decrease of $307 from last year’s tax of $25,756.

Jackson, $15,708, a decrease of $154 from last year’s tax of $15,862.

Liberty, $45,900, a decrease of $2,628 from last year’s tax of $48,528.

Monroe, $32,640, a decrease of $79 from last year’s tax of $32,719.

Montville, $27,540, a decrease of $3,032 from last year’s tax of $30,572.

Northport, $103,428, a decrease of $1,272 from last year’s tax of $104,700.

Searsport, $132,804, a decrease of $6,761 from last year’s tax of $139,565.

Stockton Springs, $69,615, a decrease of $3,152 from last year’s tax of $72,767.

Thorndike, $20,196, a decrease of $378 from last year’s tax of $20,574.

Troy, $23,307, a decrease of $1,664 from last year’s tax of $24,971.

Waldo, $15,657, a decrease of $48 from last year’s tax of $15,705.

Winterport, $93,228, a decrease of $1,526 from last year’s tax of $94,754.

These communities will experience a tax increase:

Belmont, $24,072, an increase of $1,038 over last year’s levy of $23,034.

Freedom, $18,870, an increase of $24 over last year’s levy of $18,846.

Islesboro, $205,530, an increase of $1,574 over last year’s levy of $203,956.

Knox, $22,899, an increase of $22 over last year’s levy of $22,877.

Lincolnville, $136,425, an increase of $1,153 over last year’s levy of $135,272.

Morrill, $22,236, an increase of $458 over last year’s levy of $21,778.

Palermo, $64,107, an increase of $3,119 over last year’s levy of $60,998.

Prospect, $17,850, an increase of $941 over last year’s levy of $16,909.

Searsmont, $53,856, an increase of $1,140 over last year’s levy of $52,716.

Swanville, $45,390, an increase of $3,615 over last year’s levy of $41,775.

Unity, $54,315, an increase of $2,227 over last year’s levy of $52,088.