Property taxes are going up in Woolwich; the mill rate which has remained the same for the past three years increased from $15.40 to $16.70 per $1,000 dollars of assessed valuation. The increase means a homeowner whose property is valued at $200,000 can expect a $260 increase in their property taxes; a property valued at $300,000 will see a $390 increase in their property tax bill, according to the selectboard. They set the 2024 mill rate when they met Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 4 at the town office.

Chairman David King Sr. attributed the tax increase to higher 2024-25 Regional School Unit 1 and Sagadahoc County budgets. “The numbers are what they are,” King told Wiscasset Newspaper prior to the meeting’s start. “We did what we could but kind of knew we’d be faced with a tax increase,” he commented. For the first time, Woolwich’s share of the county budget rose to over a million dollars, $1,017,933. The town’s share of the 2024-25 RSU 1 budget is $5,028,744. Property tax bills will be in the mail. The first tax payment is due by Oct. 30.

Meanwhile, King said a town-wide property tax revaluation is on schedule for completion in the spring of 2025. “That will help but we won’t see the impact until next year,” he added. Dirigo Assessing Group based in Sidney was hired to carry out the work – the town’s first revaluation in more than 15 years. Along with evening out the tax burden, the revaluation will ensure the town continues receiving its share of state aid, including homestead reimbursement and reimbursements for veterans and properties in tree growth, according to King. Dirigo Assessing Group was the only company submitting a bid to carry out Woolwich’s reassessment, which cost $282,000.

Special town meeting set

The selectboard will seek voter permission to administer grant funding for construction of a broadband internet network at a special town meeting at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the municipal building. Approval of the article authorizes the selectboard to enter into contracts with Maine Connectivity Authority and Consolidated Communications, and “appropriate $225,000 from the Undesignated Fund Balance for a required matching contribution, to be placed in a reserve fund with no more than 50 percent spent during the 2024-25 fiscal year, and no more than 50 percent to be spent during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.”

On Aug. 9, Maine Connectivity Authority awarded a $6 million grant for the construction of fiber broadband internet service in Woolwich, Wiscasset, Alna, Dresden, Boothbay, Edgecomb, Waldoboro, Whitefield and Nobleboro in partnership with Consolidated Communications. The article authorizes Woolwich’s share of the required matching funds for the grant award.

Nomination papers for town office are still available at the town office but the deadline for returning them is Sept. 6. There are two open seats – a three-year term on the selectboard and a three-year term for road commissioner. Nomination papers must contain 25 signatures of voters registered to vote in Woolwich, and not more than 100 signatures. The terms of King on the selectboard and Jack Shaw, road commissioner, are expiring. Both King and Shaw plan to seek re-election. Voting will be at the General Election Nov. 5.

Selectman Jason Shaw said construction of the new bridge on Old Stage Road is on schedule; the new concrete embankments are in place at both ends. Shaw said he’d been in recent contact with Maine Department of Transportation and told the project is on track to be completed sometime in October reopening the road to traffic.

Jimmy Whorff, Reed & Reed project contractor, said work had begun to remove the temporary roadway alongside MaineDOT’s new Station 46 bridge on Route One near Taste of Maine Restaurant. Whorff noted about 31,000 yards of fill will be removed. Speaking on behalf of the selectboard, Shaw said it had been a pleasure working with Whorff and Reed & Reed during the project.

Selectman and State Rep. Allison Hepler said she recently discussed the town’s annual tax payment to the county. In an email to Wiscasset Newspaper, she wrote, “The one-time payment to the county is in statute but I've been talking with our Sagadahoc County administrator, Amber Jones, about the impact of making one payment at the same time (property) taxes are due.” Hepler said she had brought up the possibility of towns making two, or possibly four payments instead of one lump sum. The county commitment must be paid before Nov. 1. The matter came up Aug. 7 when the selectboard signed off on the assessment; Hepler had not been in attendance. Selectmen King and Jason Shaw felt towns would be better served by the county commissioners if they met individually with selectboards explaining why budget increases are needed, and staggering the commitment payment.

The town office is seeking Woolwich’s most senior resident to offer him or her the town’s Boston Post Cane following the Aug. 17 death of Geraldine “Gerry” Edgerly. She would have celebrated her 102nd birthday on Veteran’s Day. The ceremonial walking stick is given to the town’s oldest resident.

The Community Picnic, formerly known as Woolwich Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 14 on the grounds alongside the municipal building and Farmhouse Museum. The annual gathering from 11:30 to 2, features live music from the Montsweagers, grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, ice cream, baked goods for purchase and more on the lawn near the municipal building. Woolwich Historical Society will open the museum for tours and hold a bake sale.