HARPSWELL

Harpswell’s mil rate is going up for 2018 — by 2 cents over 2017.

Selectmen approved the 0.3 percent increase of $6.48 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Treasurer Marguerite Kelly said the small increase would reduce the risk of a larger jump next year.

“I agreed with the rest of the staff that $6.48 makes a little bit of sense. To stay the same puts us at risk that next year there’ll be a significant jump,” said Kelly. “Two cents is really pretty minor.”

At $6.48, a Harpswell property assessed at $200,000 would have a tax bill of $1,296.

At their annual town meeting in March, Harpswell voters approved a $5.22 million spending plan, an increase of $166,958, or 3.3 percent, over the prior year.

Harpswell’s mil rate has remained flat since increasing 2.56 percent in 2016. That marked increase was due largely to costs relating to the Mitchell Field pier. The town issued $3.59 million in bonds earlier this year to fund the demolition of that pier, which it will have to pay for in coming years.

According to data from mainehomeconnection.com, Harpswell’s mil rate remains the lowest in Cumberland County by far, even with the 2 cent increase. The second lowest rate in the county is $12.30 per $1,000 of assessed value for Raymond, which is nearly double Harpswell’s rate. On the higher end of that list is $19.38 for Saco, $20.07 for Biddeford and $21.65 for Portland.

nstrout@timesrecord.com

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