Sumner mil rate up 10 cents

SUMNER — The town's mil rate is up 10 cents over last year, reported Town Clerk Susan Runes at the selectmen's meeting Tuesday. 

As a result, "the average tax bill will probably go up about $10, which none of us want to see, but it's certainly a doable amount," Runes said.

The town's mil rate has been set at $15.70 per $1,000 value of assessment – last year, the mil rate was $15.60, said Runes.

Owners of property valued at $100,000 should expect an increase of $10, said Runes. A property valued at $150,000 would generate a $15 increase, and so on.

"The mil rate is determined by taking the budget voted on at town meeting, subtracting any anticipated revenue and any money from the general fund," Runes explained.

According to Administrative Assistant Cynthia Norton, a tax rate of $15.70 is "middle of the road, and a very slight increase over last year."

She said the increase also gives the town an overlay of $32,000, which is money over budget the town can put toward other expenses.

"It's extra money that comes in handy when there is an emergency, such as needing a new firetruck engine or if for some reason the tax commitment is wrong and we owe somebody several thousand dollars," Norton said.

"It gives us a little buffer over what we have to spend and if we don't need it, it goes in the general fund and helps in further years," she said.

Runes reported that the town's total taxable value has increased – this year it is $69,819,000. Last year, it was $69,007,000.

The increase is mostly due to new construction, renovations or land splits, said Norton, like when a new subdivision is put in or someone sells a portion of their land.

For instance, when someone has five acres of land and they split the land into two separate pieces, the two-and-a-half acres are valued more individually than the five acres, Runes explained, because those two lots become buildable lots.

According to Runes, with an overlay of $32,000, the town can repair its firetruck without putting the town in a "financial bind."

"A dime is not an unreasonable increase considering we were looking at 86 cents [last year]," said Runes.

Last year at town meeting, said Runes, the board anticipated an increase in school district costs the following year. "We raised a little extra last year to help ease the burden this year," she said.

She said any leftover money in the general fund this year can be used to offset any potential increases next year.

"We are doing really well, just raising the mil rate 10 cents," Runes said Tuesday.