The City Assessing Department consists of a three member Board of Assessors. The Board is responsible for discovering, listing, equalizing, and valuing all taxable property, real and personal, for the purpose of property taxation.
These duties and responsibilities are completed annually and must comply with the State of Maine Taxation Statutes. Discovery is accomplished by reviewing deeds, surveys, sub-division plans, declaration forms, inspections, and building permits.
On or about the 15th of July, the Board, after receipt of the annual budget, approved by the City Council, applies the budget amount to the total valuation of the community thus generating the fiscal year tax mill rate.
The total tax required from individual local property owners is then determined, according to the just value of their real and personal property. Bills are mailed and a list of taxes due are committed to the Tax Collector.
This department provides information and assistance to property owners, title companies, real estate brokers, attorneys, appraisers, and other City Departments. It maintains historical and current data on each property, such as ownership, parcel boundaries, land and structure inventories, property characteristics and exemptions.
Municipal Tax Rate
Taxes:
Real Estate and Personal Property. The assessment date for the State of Maine is April 1st of each year. The City Council approves the annual budget in July and tax bills are issued in early August.
FISCAL YEAR: July 1st-June 30th
ASSESSMENT: 100%
2006 TAX RATE: $19.75
TAXES DUE: October 31
INTEREST: 11.00% as of November 1st (rate set annually)
GENERAL INFO:
Payment of any amount is accepted toward taxes that have not foreclosed. When payments are made on overdue taxes any interest due is deducted first with any remainder going toward the actual tax amount. When more than one year's taxes are due, any payment made is applied to the oldest balance first. If taxes are current, payment toward the following year's taxes is accepted up to the amount of the last bill issued.
MORTGAGE HOLDERS:
Tax bills will be mailed directly to mortgage holders if requested.
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