Woolwich selectmen signed the 2026-27 Sagadahoc County tax commitment July 1.  The town’s share of the $14.2 million budget is $1.335 million. The payment is due by Sept 1. Selectboard Chair David King Sr. said Woolwich pays the fifth highest amount in taxes of the 10 towns making up the county.

At the outset of the meeting, Selectman Allison Hepler provided an estimated breakdown of how Woolwich’s property taxes are spent. Following a town-wide revaluation, the town’s 2025 mill rate was set at $10.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Assuming an increase in the mill rate to $11 per $1,000; Hepler explained a homeowner with a property assessed at $300,000 would have a resulting 2026 tax bill of $3,300. She said the biggest percentage of the tax bill, 59%, would go for education, the Regional School Unit 1 budget and operation of the elementary school.  “The next highest percentage, 20% of the tax bill, would be for the combined budgets for fire, EMS, roads, trash and plowing,” she said. The county budget accounts for 13%.

Hepler said the recently approved $80,180 funding contribution for Patten Free Library was less than 1%, amounting to .75% of the tax bill. Selectmen Tommy Davis and Jason Shaw helped Hepler develop the estimate. Davis explained the library funding is Woolwich’s share of the “municipal funding partnership that includes Bath, West Bath, Arrowsic and Georgetown.”

Maine Department of Transportation officials will hold a preconstruction meeting on the planned replacement of a culvert that will temporarily shut down Middle Road (Route 127) this summer. Selectman Shaw plans to attend the meeting tentatively scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, July 9 in Augusta. The project is about a mile north of Old Stage Road in a small gully where the road crosses a brook.  MaineDOT initially said the work may require a road closure of up to two weeks. Hepler also hopes to attend the meeting.

King noted construction materials being stored alongside the cove north of Taste of Maine Restaurant are for a separate MaineDO project involving re-painting Max L. Wilder Memorial Bridge spanning the Sasanoa River. The historic bridge links Woolwich with Arrowsic and will remain open during the work.

EMS Director Danny Evarts was unable to attend the meeting. His written report stated during June the ambulance department responded to 30 calls; 33 patients were seen and 24 were transported. MC1 was called for assistance five times.

The fire department was called 14 times last month, including a boat accident and water rescue. Fire Chief Shaun Merrill said first responders responded to three motor vehicle accidents, four fire alarms, a possible structural fire and a motor vehicle collision with a building.

The selectboard is considering establishing a cooling center at the municipal building during times of extreme hot weather this summer. Details will be forthcoming on the town’s website.