MECHANIC FALLS — Residents will see a minimal increase in their property taxes this year following town council action Monday.
Councilors set the new rate at $17.55 per thousand of property value, which is 15 cents more than the current.
“I told people at town meeting that we were probably going to have to raise the rate a bit,” Town Manager John Hawley said.
He noted that the minimal tax increase relied on a one-time infusion of more than $200,000 from the town’s fund balance.
Hawley also reported that for the budget year that ended June 30, the town spent about $95,000 less than what was allocated. That amount will be added to the town’s fund balance.
Lisa Prevost, the town finance director, attributed the savings to a number of factors that aren’t likely to be repeated, the unusually mild winter among them.
“The town was able to save significantly in the salt budget and also in the heating expense of the buildings,” Prevost said.
She also noted that the $34,442 the town received from harvesting trees on the transfer station property was “a big help,” and a revenue the town had not planned on when setting the budget.
Another pleasant surprise, according to Prevost, was that motor vehicle excise taxes were $33,206 higher than anticipated, which offset the $33,045 the town was down in bank interest earnings.
In other business the council approved the local ATV club’s request to use certain town roads for the purpose of accessing nonconnecting trails and local stores. Speeds on public right of ways will be limited to 10 mph.
Council members also discussed a proposed policy governing events and mobile vendors. A public hearing on the policy will be held at the council’s regular meeting Sept. 7.
Hawley also announced that at that meeting there will be a public hearing on the charter commission’s recommendations. One change being recommended, which Hawley said came as a surprise to him, is to end the traditional annual town meeting. Town officials would follow the current process for developing the annual budget, but rather than have it taken to a town meeting, the budget would go to voters in June in ballot form, with line items similar to what they traditionally dealt with at town meeting.
The council also approved purchasing a Ford F350 from Rowe Auburn for $26,859, and a Bobcat skid steer from Jordan Equipment for $21,930.
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