WOODLAND, Maine — Woodland Board of Selectmen agreed on June 25 to set the town’s mill rate at 22.25, marking a one mill increase over last year’s rate of 21.25.
The increase is primarily due to municipal expenses, which residents voted forward during a March 19 town meeting.
This year’s municipal tax commitment is $1,064,782.20, or $51,876.66 higher than last year’s total of $1,012,906.04. Several departments saw an increase, including fees for Aroostook Waste Solutions, formerly known as the Tri-Community Landfill, municipal building repairs, and medical insurance expenses for municipal employees.
In an effort to ensure that the mill rate did not increase by a greater amount, town officials cut $52,250 from the Public Works budget.
During the March Town Meeting, Selectman Tom Drew said the reduction was set in place so the town could be properly equipped to face problems outside of its control, such as municipal building roof maintenance. Despite highway budget cuts, Drew said the department will be working hard to improve local roads, although it is unlikely that any paving will occur this year.
School officials also had to tighten their belts this year, and ultimately offset a $191,702.46 increase in their budget by setting aside $304,245 in the reserve account. Altogether, this year’s school budget totaled $2,252,111.25.
Some increases in education include an additional $53,189 in K-8 instruction, $24,666 in transportation and $22,709 in the operating budget. On top of these increases, School Union 122 was also hit with a reduction in state funding, which went from $1,268,324.69 last year to $1,060,407.15.
