Edgecomb Selectmen

Selectmen back off revaluation talk

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 10:30am

Edgecomb selectmen have decided against proposing a town-wide property revaluation this year.

In July 2012, the board discussed seeking one at the May 2013 town meeting. Edgecomb's last revaluation was in 2004, selectmen said.

But on March 18, selectmen discussed the idea again, and said they won't ask for one this year.

The state is not likely to press the issue, in part because the town's total valuation is 91 percent of what the state says it should be, Selectman Stuart Smith said. The state wants towns to keep that figure at 70 percent or higher, he said.

In addition, Edgecomb's quality rating, based on the state's review of local property sales, is still a good distance from the threshold that would raise flags for the state, Smith said.

Meeting with the Edgecomb Budget Committee March 18, selectmen said they also will not propose raising tax money to put away toward a revaluation. When the town decides to do one, the estimated $80,000 to $100,000 expense can come from surplus funds, selectmen said.

“Surplus is our reserve account,” Smith said.

Town meeting is set for 10 a.m. May 11, at town hall.

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