The Harpswell Select Board is hoping residents won’t get too superstitious about the town’s new property tax rate of $6.66 — an increase of 30 cents, or 4.7 percent.
“I will say, that’s not a very lucky number,” Select Board member Matt Gilley said during a special meeting Tuesday to approve the tax rate.
“I know. It’s the devil’s number,” Select Board Chair Kevin Johnson replied. “But there’s another way to look at it: It’s the prefix for Bowdoinham [phone numbers].”
Town Assessing Agent Debbie Turner gave the Select Board multiple options ranging from $6.65 to $6.68, adding that even numbers work better for rounding purposes. So the board went with the lowest even-numbered option, approving the increase 3-0.
At $6.66 per $1,000 of valuation, Harpswell’s property tax rate remains among the lowest in the state. It had been as high as $6.76, in 2021, but was reduced to $5.90 in 2022 after the town made adjustments to property assessments.
The rate increased by 3.4 percent to $6.10 in 2023, followed by a 4.3 percent increase to $6.36 in 2024. The latest increase is slightly higher than the 4.4 percent increase to $6.64 that local had predicted at Town Meeting in March.
Town Administrator Kristi Eiane said residents should be pleased with the new tax rate. “If you have a $400,000 property, [for] every $100,000, your tax bill is going to go up $30, so it’s going to go up $120,” she said.
The 2025 town budget approved by voters in March totals $7,833,477, an increase of 6.5 percent from 2024. Property taxes also cover Harpswell’s contribution to the local school district budget. The budget for the academic year that began July 1 is $57.9 million, 5.5 percent higher than the previous year. Harpswell’s share is $11.3 million, an 8.7 percent increase.
Town officials said tax bills would be issued soon. Taxes are due in two payments, on Sept. 15 and Dec. 15.
