POLAND — Selectpersons said Tuesday night that they want an explanation of why Androscoggin County has raised the town’s assessment for the next fiscal year from $964,000 to $1.02 million, an increase of $54,141.
Last year, the town paid the county $903,780. The latest assessment is a difference of $114,361.
County officials gave the lower figure earlier in the year when the town began its budget deliberations.
The Select Board members agreed Tuesday that county officials should have explained why they increased the assessment at this late date in budget-setting process.
The board amended the warrant article on the county assessment to authorize expenditure of the higher figure but voted not to recommend its passage at the town meeting Saturday, April 2.
Board Chairperson Stephen Robinson asked if there may have been an error in the county’s tabulations. He said he did not notice Poland’s payment of $463,000 for the Sheriff’s Office law enforcement services listed as revenue in the county’s budget.
No county officials attended Tuesday night’s meeting, though they were asked to.
Town Manager Matt Garside said he will again request county representatives to attend the next Select Board meeting March 15.
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