Alna First Selectman David Abbott said Sept. 21, he was making progress on the tax commitment and his prediction from two weeks earlier still held: He expected little change up or down from last year’s rate, but was still figuring out where it would land.

Speaking at a board meeting at the town office, Abbott said he planned to apply about $200,000 from excise taxes, state aid and surplus to reduce what has to be raised from property taxes. “So I think we’re in good shape financially,” he said. The town’s total valuation has hit $70 million, he said.

“I’ve got the envelopes all stamped, just waiting for you,” Deputy Town Clerk Judy Greenleaf told Abbott about the upcoming tax bills. About half a dozen people have made payments in advance, she added.

Selectmen may call a meeting to set the tax rate, or may set it at the board’s next regular meeting, Oct. 5, Abbott said. “As soon as we’re ready, we’ll pull the trigger and send (the bills) out.”

Alna’s 2015 tax rate was $20.60 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, or $2,060 for a $100,000 property.

Road update

The Edgecomb man hired to fill cracks on Cross Road and possibly others, depending on how far the money goes, will start work soon, Abbott said. Cross Road’s cracks may take the whole $3,000 the board agreed to pay Bill Rogers for the work, Abbott said.

Rogers plans to start in a couple of weeks, when the ground is cooler and the material will hold better, Abbott said. Rogers will start at the Route 218 end of Cross Road, Abbott said. “We’ll have to see how far the $3,000 worth takes us.”

That still won’t solve all of Cross Road’s problems, Abbott said. Some cracking will need more extensive patching, possibly through grinding and repaving the crack and the immediate area around it, like the state does, he said.