Norway to hold public hearing for online tax info

NORWAY — The advantages of providing residents with tax maps, records, and the ability to pay taxes online was discussed by the Norway Board of Selectmen at its meeting on December 15.

Norway Town Manager David Holt said that the subject was brought up at a town meeting nearly 10 years ago, during which taxpayers expressed concern about their tax information going public.

"We asked the town ... if they would like to put the tax maps, and eventually the tax-collection function on the town webpage," said Holt. "They were almost unanimously opposed to the notion; they were concerned at the time about the danger of having information about their properties on the Internet."

Holt said he got the idea from the town of Greenwood, after learning that its taxpayers liked the convenience of being able to pay their taxes online.

"I thought that this might help out our non-resident taxpayers. If they had a [summer] camp on the lake, and they wanted to make their tax payment in the fall, but they were back in Massachusetts, they could pay it with their credit card online."

According to Holt, many towns, particularly those with non-resident populations, are jumping on the bandwagon to provide this kind of service.

"It's very common," he said.

As part of a broadband initiative, Holt said that the Maine Office of GIS (MEGIS) is working to develop parcel-based Geographic Information System data for a number of towns.

According to an email from Jon Giles, GIS manager for Sebago Technics, there is no cost to towns for participating in the broadband mapping project.

"What they would like to do is put up the digitized tax information," Holt explained. "As part of that, they want to show that, 'at 91 Pleasant Street, David Holt owns 3 acres of property,' and show the outline of the property."

Holt said that, at the town meeting years ago, many taxpayers said that they were uncomfortable with the idea. However, after learning about other Maine towns moving forward with the project, Holt said he is in favor of GIS parcel mapping.

Holt said he is also in favor of providing tax bills on the Internet.

"Anyone could check their tax balance at any time, and make a payment at any time," he said.

Holt asked the other board members whether this is something they thought the town should pursue. Board members agreed that both taxpayers and the town would benefit from the online feature.

"We are in an electronic age now," said Selectman Warren Sessions. "I think we would find the [town] response much different than it was 10 years ago."

"The information is out there," added Chairwoman Irene Millett. "We aren't putting any information out there, that isn't already out there. All of our tax information on our properties – the size of the lots, what type of buildings there are, when they were bought – is all available here [town office] anyway. It's public information."

Selectman Russ Newcomb proposed that the town approve the publishing of the town's GIS data, and recommended that the board hold a town meeting for public input on the matter.

Holt agreed that now would be a good time to revisit the issue.

"With the board's support, we could investigate ... over the next two to three months, come back and report how we think it might work, and by majority vote, we could go to a town meeting," said Holt.

"I think if done correctly with proper safeguards," GIS mapping is a convenience, said Holt. "It's a 24 hours a day, seven days per week convenience."

In other news, the board:

• Approved a liquor license for 76 Pleasant Street.

• Approved a liquor license for Simply Eats Family Dining on Route 26.

• Approved the application for an Outdoor Festival permit from Norway Trackers for their annual snowmobile radar run and drag race event on January 28-29.

• Accepted the annual changes to the General Assistance Ordinance.

• Accepted the transfer of funds of $2,300 from drug forfeiture for the Drug Prevention Account.

• Heard from Town Manager David Holt that he received requests from a handful of taxpayers that the town enroll in an Efficiency Maine program under which the state gives out low-interest loans to people to make energy improvements to their homes, but in order for someone to qualify, they must live in a town that participates in the program. Holt said that 86 towns are currently enrolled.

• Heard Holt and Chairwoman Irene Millett thank board members for their work throughout the year.

• Announced that the town office will be closing on Friday, December 23 at 2 p.m. and will reopen on Tuesday, December 27 at 8 a.m.