Dixfield Water Superintendent Jim White, right, told selectmen Feb. 12 that the town needs to consider raising water rates. From left are Selectmen Aaron Jamison, Norman Mitchell and Chairwoman Norine Clarke, Town Manager Carlo Puiia and Selectman Gene Skibitsky. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)
DIXFIELD — Water Superintendent Jim White told selectmen recently that the town needs to consider a water rate increase. It’s been 10 years since the last one, he said.
White said he’s guessing the increase would be around 6 to 7 percent.
The process through Maine Rural Water takes three to four months and costs between $3,000 and $4,000, he said.
“I’d like to see it (rate increase) start on July 1,” White said.
In another water matter, White said the system pumped 42 million gallons in 2017. Of that, 463,000 gallons was lost.
“No system is 100 percent solid. Our water loss was 10.1 percent. Anything below 15 percent is good; 10 percent is really good,” he said.
The board voted 4-0 to approve a recommendation by Randy Glover of Public Works to spend $2,000 from the maintenance account for a four-year extended warranty for the John Deere loader.
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said Dixfield is looking at a 21 percent increase in the Oxford County tax, up $25,777 to $148,005.
He said the overall county increase is 19.5 percent. Based of valuation, Dixfield pays 2.12 percent of the county tax.
Puiia said the town’s revaluation is on schedule, with John E. O’Donnell and Associates of New Gloucester completing the revaluation and about halfway through inputting the data.
Selectmen voted to to include exterior and interior revaluations.
Letters will be sent to individuals by June regarding the results and Hearings will take place during the summer for people to discuss them with the assessor.
In another matter, selectmen amended the budget schedule, with meetings March 5 and 19, and April 2. The annual town meeting was changed from May 31 to Wednesday, May 30, with the referendum vote on June 12.
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