The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen denied Mason Station an abatement request on over 80 lots on the company's 33-acre Birch Point Road property during a special meeting August 28. 

Selectmen agreed that the company has not paid taxes owed on the property, which was their reason for denying the request. According to town manager Laurie Smith, the company owes $750,000 in accrued taxes and interest.

Selectmen reluctantly decided to take town-owned properties on which the company owes back taxes off the tax rolls. This means a collection of properties valued at $6,517,300 will not be included in town-wide taxes.

“This troubles me,” Selectman Ed Polewarczyk said, adding that taking the Mason Station property out of taxable land translates to over a one percent tax increase for every other taxpayer in town. However, the town can't continue to send a bill that will not get paid, he said.

Keeping the land as taxable property has negatively affected the budget, Smith said. Since the budget is created with the expectation the town will receive tax money on the property, a gap is created when the taxes are not paid.

“You're at a blockage,” Smith said. “I don't see what else you could do,” except to sell the acquired property to a new owner.