Buckfield mil rate set

BUCKFIELD -- The Buckfield selectboard set the mil rate at $19.35 during a special meeting on Monday evening.

The rate represents an increase of less than two percent over last year, and is consistent with what the town projected in the town report in June.

The increase will pay for a reduction in the Homestead Exemption, an increase in school costs, and a county tax increase, say town officials.

"Even if the town would have continued at the same mil rate, taxpayers would have seen an increase due to the state decreasing the Homestead Exemption value," said Town Manager Glen Holmes.

The Homestead Exemption was decreased from $13,000 to $10,000 this year by the state, a move that costs taxpayers approximately $31 for every $100,000 worth of home that they own.

Holmes projected the total impact for a Buckfield property valued at $157,210.

On a property of that value, the owner would see a total increase of $101.76, "of which about half would be from the Homestead reduction and about half from the school," said Holmes.

Holmes noted that that would also include a county tax increase of $4.37.

Holmes said that municipal revenues have been unchanged.

"The town's share of everything stayed the same," said Holmes.