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%.
“I will say, that’s not a very lucky number,” Select Board member Matt Gilley said during a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 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% to $6.10 in 2023, followed by a 4.3% increase to $6.36 in 2024. The latest increase is slightly higher than the 4.4% increase to $6.64 that local officials 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% 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% higher than the previous year. Harpswell’s share is $11.3 million, an 8.7% increase.
Town officials said tax bills would be issued soon. Taxes are due in two payments, on Sept. 15 and Dec. 15.
