HARPSWELL

Harpswell residents could see a 2.7 percent increase in property tax rates this year.

Under the town’s proposed fiscal 2016 budget, Harpswell’s current tax rate of $6.24 per $1,000 of assessed value may increase by 17 cents to $6.41. The owner of a home assessed at $360,000 would pay $2,307, which reflects an increase of $61.

Harpswell residents will be voting at Saturday’s Town Meeting on a municipal budget of $4.9 million, which has increased 8.3 percent from last year’s $4.5 million. The town’s overall spending plan is currently at $13.9 million, which includes a county contribution of $1.3 million and the town’s share in Maine School Administrative District 75 of $7.7 million.

With estimated revenues of $2.3 million, the net commitment is expected to be $11.6 million. Dividing the net commitment by the total taxable valuation of $1.8 billion results in a tax rate increase of 2.7 percent from the prior year. 

Warrant articles surrounding the future of Mitchell Field will be sure to draw some attention at Saturday’s gathering.

Voters will see two articles regarding the preservation of the town’s water tower, including resident David Chipman’s petition and an alternative article suggested by the selectboard.

The alternate article, which precedes Chipman’s proposal, asks to place $22,000 in a reserve fund for future maintenance and further engineering reports on the tower, while authorizing the selectmen to accept private gifts and grants on behalf of the project.

Residents will also be asked to appropriate $150,000 for the removal of pumphouse debris that collapsed near the Mitchell Field pier.

A section of the pier had collapsed in 2012, while the pumphouse also gave way last summer.

“This is something we’re required to do at this point in time,” Jane Covey, chairwoman of the Mitchell Field Committee, said earlier this month. “The permits have been developed and gathered, and it’s just a matter of having the resources to do it.”

Any remaining funds would be held in a reserve account for emergency repairs or other projects at the field.

In addition, voters will also see $30,000 on the warrant for further waterfront planning at Mitchell Field, including study of the deteriorating pier.

The committee is hoping to use two-thirds of the funds to research the possibility of building an underwater reef with some of the pier debris, which would be below water level with no impact on boating.

This could potentially save the town up to $700,000 on demolition costs, which is estimated at $3-4 million, said Covey.

“It would be less that would have to pulled up out of the water and taken away,” she said. “We don’t know if that’s possible at this point, but certainly that would be pursued.”

Town Planner Mark Eyerman noted that the town would have to demonstrate to the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Marine Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineering and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that a habitat in the area will benefit through that option.

A project of this type has never been permitted in the state up to this point, though the Corps has allowed some in Massachusetts, he said.

Town Meeting will take place at Harpswell Community School on Saturday. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the town’s business meeting will begin at 10 a.m.

Child care is available for children 2 years and older during the meeting.

dkim@timesrecord.com