Alna selectmen July 31 nodded a tax rate of $24.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, up from last year's $23.50. Treasurer Amy Stockford cited some bright notes. Thanks to the built-up surplus and good cash flow, the town took out a smaller tax anticipation note (TAN) this year, has not had to touch it, and might not have to get a TAN next year. And Stockford said next year's planned town-wide revaluation, the first in about nine years, will get the town's valuation up where the state says it should be and thus restore the full, $25,000 homestead exemption for local taxpayers.

Alna taxpayers are now only getting about half that exemption, she said.

"We are sitting at 52% for our (valuation) ratio with the state, which is incredibly low," Stockford explained. "It tanked about 10% in this past year, which is huge. But if you look at the real estate market, that's why."

As for this year's tax rate, Stockford said county, school and municipal tabs were all up. The overlay, or extra, figured in is a "teeny, tiny" $12,654, she told the board. "I think what we were trying to do is just mitigate the increase as much as we possibly can, right? Because I know people are stretched pretty thin, paying taxes, and just the economy in general ... I think it's important to raise taxes as little as we possibly can, because I think it's (all) a lot for people."

Also July 31, selectmen extended the mining moratorium by 180 days as work continues on an ordinance to propose. "That (extension) should get us to a point where hopefully we'll be able to present something to the town," Second Selectman Steve Graham said.

The board went with engineering firm Haley Ward Inc. in Bangor to evaluate if the town office property would work for a "future recycling and solid waste convenience center," as the request for proposals (RFP) put it. Alna has long contracted with Wiscasset to use its transfer station. The RFP stated, "Because of Wiscasset's rising costs, the town (of Alna) is evaluating options for municipal solid waste (MSW) and source separated recyclables management including development of a town owned and operated solid waste and recycling convenience center (SW/RCC), providing curbside services for residents, or potentially a hybrid solution."

Selectmen said the town's Assistance with Specific Know-How (ASK) grant from Lincoln County will fund Haley Ward's $4,500 in work. Third Selectman Coreysha Stone said the firm, in a Zoom meeting, noted its experience in the permitting process. "We weren't looking at exploring permitting, necessarily. We (are) just looking at viability of property. The permitting process would be a lot more expensive ... But I think the most important part is just to finish the information gathering, so that we are a community that is prepared to make a decision, at some point in the future."

Stone added, most residents who took part in a 2024 survey "clearly ... want us to stick with Wiscasset. But ... many people ... indicated they wanted as much information as possible, about our options."