Despite increases in the school budget and county commitment, Woolwich selectmen were able to hold the line on property taxes this year due to $4.6 million in new construction.

The board set the 2016-17 tax rate Monday afternoon after meeting at the town office with auditor William H. Brewer of Bath. Setting the tax rate was the only item on the agenda. This year’s rate of $14.20 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation is the same as last year, down from the $14.30 rate of two years ago. Homeowners with property assessed at $100,000 can expect their tax bill to be about the same as last year, $1,420.

Selectmen’s Chairman David King Sr. said this year’s tax commitment came in at $4.98 million. According to the 2016 Municipal Tax Rate Calculation Form, Woolwich received $80,072 in homestead reimbursement and $95,222 in reimbursement through the state’s BETE program.

Following the meeting, Brewer told the newspaper, Woolwich had $1,320,771 remaining in its 2016-17 undesignated fund balance, an amount that was up slightly from the 2015-16 budget.

On Brewer’s recommendation, selectmen voted to apply $900,000 from the undesignated fund balance to this year’s commitment. Removing the monies will leave a balance of $421,000, he added. 

Selectmen agreed to set aside $93,651 in this year’s overlay account, funds to be used to cover unanticipated expenditures over the course of the remaining fiscal year.

Town Administrator Lynette Eastman said tax bills will be in the mail by the end of the week. “People have until Oct. 31 to pay the first half without penalty and until April 30, 2017 to pay the second half without penalty,” she stated in an email to the newspaper. “Starting Nov. 1 on the first half and May 1 on the second half, interest will begin accruing at 7 percent per annum,” she continued.  

“We always accept payments of any size through out the year, even in prepayment of the next year's taxes,” added Eastman. The interest still accrues while making smaller payments.

Selectmen noted that, even with a nearly $140,000 increase in the education budget and a $5,552 increase in the Sagadahoc County budget, the overall tax rate for Woolwich taxpayers remained flat.

The 2016-17 budget proposed by selectmen and approved by voters at the annual town meeting in May was $7,305 less than last year.

According to the Woolwich contract assessor, Juanita Wilson, the town picked up $4.6 million in increased valuation and personal property over the last year. The added revenue offset a 50 percent increase in homestead exemption even though the state reimbursement rate to municipalities remains the same.

Selectmen also voted Monday to begin sending quarterly financial reports to the auditor.