By Kathy McCarty, Staff Writer
While most towns are bemoaning the fact cuts to revenue sharing by the state and increases to school budgets have dealt a blow at the municipal level, resulting in increased mil rates for many communities, officials for at least one County town have been able to prevent their mil rate from going up for at least another year.
“At a recent meeting of the Washburn Town Council, the mil rate for the 2013 taxes was set and remains the same as last year at 27.5 mils — $27.50 per $1,000 in valuation,” said Town Manager Bev Turner.
Turner said balancing the town’s budget wasn’t easy but councilors worked together to find a solution they felt best met the needs of taxpayers.
“This has been a difficult year, but with some valuation changes and decreases in the town budget, the Council was able to maintain the same mil rate. Because the land values in Washburn were low compared to other towns, the assessor recommended and the Council approved an increase of 1.3 percent,” said Turner.
This increase, said Turner, also helps Washburn satisfy the requirements set by the state regarding property valuations.
“At the town meeting in March of this year, the Council indicated to residents that if the mil rate was going to increase, there would be a special town meeting to see what additional cuts could be made to the town budget in order to maintain the same mil rate. When all the figures were compiled, the property value changes, together with a decreased town budget, offset the town’s losses from state revenue sharing and increases from both SAD 45 and the county. Therefore, no mil rate increase was necessary,” Turner said.
The cut in revenue sharing cost the town $70,000 in anticipated funds. Despite increases to both the school and county budgets, by cutting the town’s budget and revaluing certain property in the community, municipal leaders were able to hold the mil rate even with last year’s.
Mars Hill wasn’t as fortunate. Taxpayers will see a considerable increase in their tax statement this year.
“Mars Hill’s mil rate jumped from 21.04 last year to 25.75 this year. That’s an increase of 4.71,” said Town Manager Karin Petrin.
Petrin said the increase was due, in part, to the school budget and cuts in revenue sharing.
