FORT KENT — The Aroostook County Commissioners released proposed 1992 county taxes for municipalities, plantations and unorganized territories at their meeting in Fort Kent Wednesday.
The county’s proposed $4 million gross budget calls for a net tax assessment of $3,018,795. With a 2-percent overlay, the grand total is $3,067,431.
Officials said the proposed 1992 county tax rates are based on a formula that uses state property valuation, which changed in all cases, but to varying degrees. Changes in county tax bills from 1991 to 1992 reflect fluctuations in state property valuations and each rise or drop is relative to what happened to every other unit.
If the budget is approved as it is now, 56 county municipalities will be responsible for raising $2,615,660 of the net assessment. The share for about a dozen plantations would be $92,206, $359,566 for unorganized townships.
If the budget stands, 38 municipalities will pay less in county taxes than they did last year. The decreases would range from less than 1 percent for seven municipalities to as much as 21 percent for Easton, which will see a nearly $20,000 drop in its bill.
The remaining 18 would see increases in their county tax assessment. All of the municipalities except two face increases of less than 10 percent.
Madawaska’s 1991 state property valuation was $263,850,000. Its proposed 1992 valuation is $320,400,000. The evaluation hike would mean a 12.35 percent or $45,283 increase in its county tax.
At Allagash, the increase would be 10.31 percent or $1,490 more.
The change either way for all but two plantations was within 8 percent. Winterville Plantation was one notable exception. It is expected to see a 39.1 percent county tax increase based on its new state property evaluation. E Plantation was de-organized.
At their half-hour meeting, commissioners authorized the Sheriffs Department to develop a proposal with Houlton Police Chief Darrell Malone on the feasibility of the county’s taking over emergency dispatch services from the town on a contract basis.
In a Dec. 9 letter to Sheriff Edgar Wheeler, Malone said because of Houlton’s severe budget crunch this year and in 1992, it is considering eliminating police, fire and ambulance dispatch services from its budget and contracting the work out to save money. He asked the county to explore what its costs would be if it took on the duties.
County Administrator Roland D. Martin said if the county handled the work, it may have to hire as many as three employees.
Chairman Norman Fournier said he would be more comfortable with an official request from Houlton’s town manager or town council. Commissioners scheduled a formal hearing on the matter for Thursday, Jan. 2.
They referred a request from the Maine Low-Level Radioactive Waste Authority for information on two potential disposal sites in Aroostook County to David Cyr, a mechanical engineer who recently was hired as the county’s public works director.
The authority asked for information on environmental, geological, land-use or other conditions within one mile of the sites which would be incompatible with a low-level radioactive waste disposal site.
Martin said both sites, T13 R5 and T10 R6, were unpopulated. He also said the authority would reimburse up to $500 of the county’s cost for gathering the information it requested.
Commissioners hired Delores Putnam as a clerk-paralegal for the District Attorney’s Houlton office. Putnam, who was chosen from a field of 24 applicants, may work in December but will assume her duties full time on Thursday, Jan. 2.
They awarded a bids for three computers for the District Attorney’s offices at Houlton, Presque Isle and Caribou to M & S Office Supplies of Presque Isle and Fort Kent, the low bidder at $7,050.
Commissioners also approved permits for two utility poles at Connor Township and a liquor license for the Long Lake Sporting Club in Sinclair Village. They discussed negotiations in a brief executive session.
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