GEORGETOWN — Georgetown’s selectmen indicated tonight that they would be willing to consider looking at whether State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin abused Maine’s Tree Growth Tax Program.

However, selectmen also said that such a probe would have to involve all 10 properties in Georgetown that are enrolled in the Tree Growth Tax Program.

Poliquin owns an oceanfront home in Georgetown that is assessed by the town at $2.8 million. Town tax records indicate Poliquin pays an annual property tax of $19,866 on his home, but only about $30 on the 10-acre lot that is in tree growth.

“It might behoove the town to evaluate all the lots to make sure they are in compliance,” said Geoff Birdsall, a town selectman. “I don’t want to do anything rash or off the cuff. The process needs to be transparent to everyone who is involved.”

The matter was raised at Thursday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting by A. Myrick Freeman III, a town resident and taxpayer. Freeman is also a retired Bowdoin College professor of economics and environmental studies.

Freeman told the selectmen that when Poliquin acquired the property in 2001 his deed included a covenant that precluded commercial harvesting of timber. The state tax law is designed to give significant tax breaks in exchange for sustainable, commercial timber harvesting.

The Nature Conservancy, which visits Poliquin’s 12-acre property on Ledgemere Road on a regular basis, has reported that there has been no evidence of trees being harvested since he acquired the property, Freeman said.

“I am concerned with anything that increases the tax burden on other taxpayers,” Freeman explained.

Birdsall said the issue will be considered at a future selectmen’s meeting.

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