After more research and new comments from residents February 21, Alna selectmen were still unsure how long the town can go before its next property revaluation.

Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve reported that Maine's Constitution calls for towns to do one every 10 years, which would put Alna two years overdue for its next revaluation; however, no Maine statute gives that Constitutional mandate any teeth, he said.

The Maine Municipal Association gave that opinion but also recommended the board check with Maine Revenue Services, the state agency involved with property tax matters, Villeneuve said.

Former Alna selectman Chris Cooper recalled a Maine Revenue Services field representative saying the key issue isn't the number of years between revaluations, but a rating that involves real estate values.

Those values have declined, so the town's standing with the state should only get better, Cooper predicted.

“I think that'd be great. I hope that's the case, because I don't want a reval,” Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve said. He plans to check with the field representative about Cooper's statements.

Villeneuve and Third Selectman David Reingardt outvoted First Selectman David Abbott on how much money to propose this year's town meeting voters put toward a revaluation. The reserve account for it is up to about $30,000. Last year, $5,000 was added, but Villeneuve and Reingardt decided to propose hiking this year's amount to $30,000.

Abbott called that increase excessive. If voters ask his opinion, he'll tell them, he said. He would favor some increase, but only to about $10,000, he said.

Villeneuve said that after he speaks with the state's field representative, the board would still have time to reconsider the amount to recommend for the reserve account this year.

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