Wiscasset selectmen Sept. 16 set the tax rate at $13.67 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Properties’ valuations were upped 30% across the board while the town anticipates its next town-wide revaluation, which will take a couple years, Town Manager Dennis Simmons said.

The board agreed to take $325,000 from the undesignated fund balance to reduce the commitment. 

Last year’s rate was $17.77, Simmons said. 

“We were running around 70% of the state valuation, which means you were going to lose 70% of your homestead exemption. So even though they’re about to make a motion that taxes stay the same this year, if we didn’t bump our value up to the state value, you’d end up with a tax increase” due to the impact on the homestead exemption, Simmons explained on a resident’s question.

“So (we did) a 30% (valuation) increase right across the board. Now once the revaluation happens, we’ll rebalance all that stuff to where it should be. But this protects the homestead exemption … It does not increase your taxes, because it’s dropping the (tax) rate.”

Also Sept. 16, the board nodded $40,000 in carry-forward requests, including $20,000 unspent from contracted services, for the ongoing needs assessment project for the town office and Wiscasset Community Center; $10,000 from contracted services for an "anticipated increase in IT support expenses" under a different provider, Simmons stated in his manager's report; and $10,000 from the transfer station to remove the demolition debris area's paving and replace it with concrete "that will better withstand the heavy use it receives," Simmons wrote.

The board OK'd Simmons' vacation request for Oct. 27 through Nov. 8 and named Chair Sarah Whitfield to represent the board at regional meetings on the future of education.

And Simmons, in his report, noted hazardous tree removal is planned along Foye Road Oct. 7 and 8. "During the work, Foye Road will be closed to (through) traffic, with access maintained for local traffic only. Travelers should expect delays and are advised to use alternate routes. We appreciate your understanding as this important safety work is completed."