Mapleton, Chapman, Castle Hill,
prepare for budget
Officials with the tri-town government of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill are preparing for the next budget, and so far tax increases are projected to be relatively small.
Jon Frederick, manger for the three towns, proposed a $1.6 million budget for the towns’ 3,000 residents that’s now being reviewed by select board members.
Although property tax rates won’t be set until the summer, after voters approve their budgets, the proposal would increase all of the town’s tax rates slightly. Mapleton’s would increase from 14.8 to 15.5 mils, Castle Hill’s from 14.6 to 15.5, and Chapman’s from 13.8 to 14.2 mils.
Frederick noted that this year’s revenues should stay relatively stable over last year. After accounting for revenues, Mapleton’s spending would total $345,678 under the proposed budget (up by $16,000 from 2015). Castle Hill’s would increase by $5,800 to $60,383, and Chapman’s would fall by about $1,000, to $59,354.
The towns share a government, while still having their own elected officials and tax rates, through formula’s in their 24-year-old interlocal agreement. Road budget appropriations are based on the town’s percentage of maintained road miles in relation to the total, and all other joint budget items are based on a formula using 70 percent of each town’s population and 30 percent of each town’s state valuation.
While spending isn’t increasing dramatically, the 2016 budget will come with a number of changes for the towns, Frederick wrote in the proposed budget.
Among the sources of increases are an 8.25 percent rise in health insurance costs for the town staff, a 35 percent spike in workers compensation costs, and a 17 percent jump in general insurance costs. This year the towns also have to start funding their Maine State Retirement employer’s contribution, following the end of the reserve accounts for municipalities.
Beyond this budget, there are “future considerations” for residents and select board members of the three towns, Frederick said.
In 2017, homestead exemptions will increase to $20,000, with state reimbursement at 50 percent on the first $10,000 and 75 percent on the second $10,000. “This will reduce our taxable valuation further, thereby increasing mil rates,” he wrote.
