LIMESTONE, Maine — Limestone, like many towns, provides a discount for residents who pay their taxes by a certain early deadline. Earlier this year, the town decided to provide a three percent discount to anyone paying their taxes by Oct. 31.
However, since the town was late in setting the mill rate, selectmen will be holding a special town meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the town office on 93 Main Street to extend that deadline.
The only item on the warrant will be to see if “the voters of limestone will vote to approve an extension” of the Oct. 31 deadline to Nov. 30.
While Limestone typically sets the yearly mill rate in mid to late August, officials weren’t able to set an annual tax rate until September 27 this year.
Former Limestone Town Manager Fred Ventresco cited multiple factors leading to the town being about a month late in setting taxes, adding that local officials had been waiting for “numbers from the state, such as how the Legislature would fund the homestead exemption.” He also said town officials had some issues assessing solar panels on personal property that slowed the process.
On the municipal side of things, Ventresco said in September that Limestone’s total budget was $1,541,226, or $2,270,790 if school and county assessments were included.
The mill rate for the 2017-18 year is $25.90 per $1,000 of property valuation, or $1.65 higher than last year’s rate or $24.25.
