Property taxes are going up 1 percent in Woolwich. Selectmen set the tax rate after meeting with their auditor William H. Brewer Monday afternoon.

“You did a good job managing your budget last year,” said Brewer.

This year’s tax rate was set at $15.15 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, compared to $15 per thousand last year. Chair David King Sr. said taxes on a home valued at $200,000 would rise $30. 

The county assessment of $743,680 was about $20,000 more than last year. Education was $4.43 million. The tax commitment came in at $5.51 million. The town received $142,909 in homestead reimbursement and $99,434 in BETE reimbursement.

Lot buy approved

A half dozen voters Monday approved the $8,000 purchase of a small lot on the corner of Walker Road and Route 1 at a special town meeting John Chapman moderated. The money will come from the undesignated fund balance. Maine Department of Transportation, the lot’s owner, had offered the town first refusal.

Resident Joan Jordan asked selectmen what plans they had for the property, which is less than an acre. King said for years the town had leased it for $1 a year from the state. “It’s the only parking we have for people wanting to visit the Tanner Memorial.” The lot is alongside the pedestrian tunnel that leads to the opposite side of Route 1 where the small memorial park is.

“It’s a buildable lot of record and a steal at that price,” added King. “There’s room there now for about eight cars but we could expand the parking if we chose to.”

In the 1980s, the lot was home to Donnelli’s Italian Restaurant. When the state widened Route 1 to four lanes, it got the property and demolished the building.