Published: 1/5/2021 12:01:32 AM
We just noticed that our annual Sanbornton tax bill has increased by roughly $250 a year. Based on assessed value, that’s a rate increase of about 96 cents per thousand of assessed value. It’s interesting that the only tax that decreased was the county tax but of course the school tax increased the most.
What concerns me is the possibility of any additional building projects that would increase our taxes further in the near future.
Sanbornton town management is developing a proposal for a building project with an estimated cost of $2.5 million to be voted on at the next town meeting. Also, the school board is talking about serious new expenses and perhaps closing one of the schools. Right now we don’t know how much funding their plans may require in tax money if approved.
Sanbornton had a fund balance of $2,087,281 prior to developing the new budget, of which selectmen voted to use $350,000 to offset the tax rate and put $50,000 toward the overlay. That left about $1,700,000 still available in the fund. That process resulted in the 96-cent increase in the new tax rate on our tax bill just received.
Considering the current economic situation and with the increase in unemployment due to the virus, many will be impacted by any additional tax increase to pay for these projects so perhaps it would be wise to place these town and school building projects on the back burner for now.
Just something to think about.
BILL WHALEN
Sanbornton