Council holds mill rate at $18.60

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DEXTER — The mill rate will remain the same for the 2016-17 tax year as the town council approved a rate not to exceed $18.6 mills, for every $1,000 in assessed property, during an Aug. 11 meeting.

The $18.60 mill rate will enable Dexter to raise the required $4,386,211 through taxation to support municipal operations as well as fund the community’s contribution to the SAD 46 budget and payment to Penobscot County. The near $4.4 million figure was approved last month, and represents an increase of a little more than $43,300 (1 percent) from the previous year.

The council had three options for the 2017 mill rate, at $18.60, $18.50 and $18.25. Councilor Marica Delaware suggested the councilors opt for the lowest of the three. “To have an even marginal decrease would be a gift to all Dexter taxpayers,” she said, adding this rate would also acknowledge the SAD 46 school board’s efforts to reduce the educational spending plan from the year before.

Councilor Sharon Grant wondered if having a lower mill rate could put the town at risk of falling a bit behind financially.

“I would be intent to keep it the same, it’s not an increase,” Councilor Ron Apel said, as Mark Robichaud said he agreed with Apel’s comment. Apel mentioned the town is about to undertake a large paving project and there are other streets that will need work.

The $18.60 mill rate was passed by a 4-1 vote, with Delaware in opposition.

Town Manager Shelley Watson said the budget process was difficult, more so than in past years, but she said the community is making upgrades to infrastructure and not taking monies out of the general fund.

The council also set Oct. 14 as the due date for property taxes. Outstanding balances paid after Oct. 14 will be assessed with an interest rate of 7 percent — a rate set by the state. Eligible property owners will be able to participate in the tax club, as the councilors approved this program and its monthly payment plan for another year.

In other business, the council discussed the residency requirement for town committees after a Sangerville resident expressed interest in serving on the planning board. The Sangerville citizen has been the only individual to come forward thus far, and the council decided not to appoint the individual.

Delaware and Grant wondered if an ordinance could be drafted specifying Dexter residency requirements for the planning board and board of appeals. “These are policy-making committees, the planning board and board of appeals can affect your pocketbook,” Delaware said, as opposed to other committees that do not make such decisions.

Watson said state statute does not specify planning board residency requirements. She said a proposed ordinance establishing such guidelines could be brought forward for a public hearing at the September council meeting.

In her report, Watson said the summer camp for youth in Dexter and other SAD 46 communities – funded through a grant from the William and Joan Alfond Foundation on Lake Wassookeag – concluded on July 29.

“The summer camp was a huge success and we are going to have a meeting of all involved for how to improve from this year,” Watson said. “We want to thank the Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union for providing T-shirts for everybody,” she added, saying Toot’s Deli gave water bottles to all camp participants.

The town manager thanked camp director/recreation director Mike Martin, camp counselors Krystyna Farrar, Abbey Jordan and Kilee Lewis and lifeguards/counselors Dustin Belanger and Jason Millette.