Should Alna keep putting money away for the next town-wide revaluation? Selectmen remained undecided on that topic February 14.

They need more information about when the next one has to be done, they said. 

Full revaluations redo towns’ property inventories to ensure property owners are paying their fair share of taxes. Alna’s last one was in 2001. Then in 2006, the town increased all property values by 15 percent, according to town officials. 

That move, known as factoring, brings a town’s total valuation closer to state standards. Alna’s valuation is now about 80 percent of what the state says it should be.

Selectmen plan to ask the Maine Municipal Association if the 2006 measure bought the town more time between revaluations. Board members were also unclear when or if the state would demand a revaluation.

“If we don’t’ have to do it, there’s no sense to keep putting money into it,” First Selectman David Abbott said.

The town has not seen an onslaught of requests for tax abatements that might signal inequity in property valuations, selectmen said. 

Selectmen expect a revaluation will cost at least $100,000. Alna has built up  a reserve of about $30,000 toward it.

After hearing back from the municipal association, the board plans to decide February 21 how much if anything they’ll recommend voters add to that pot at this year’s annual town meeting, set for March 16.

Fire department budget

Also February 21, the board expects to receive Fire Chief Mike Trask’s budget proposal. Selectmen recently said they want to ask Trask when he thinks the town will need another fire truck. That would help determine if the town is saving up enough money each year, to avoid or minimize a loan when the time comes to buy one, board members said.

Health officer sought

Selectmen are looking to fill the local health officer’s position that has been vacant for some time. Online training is required for state certification. The job pays $100 a year.

Selectmen said they would look into the duties the state expects of the position.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.