WATERBORO — Property owners in Waterboro will see a modest decrease in the mil rate when they get their tax bills in September.

The mil rate — the tax rate per $1,000 worth of property — will drop from $15.44 per $1,000 to $15.39.

That translates into a modest decrease of about $5 on a $100,000 home, or about $10 on a home valued at $200,000.

Still, selectmen who recommended the decrease option from among three offered by assessor Shirley Bartlett said the town should give decreases when it can.

“This is a golden opportunity for us to say to taxpayers ‘we’re watching your pocketbook,’ so lets reduce it,” said selectmen Gordon Littlefield as he made the motion for the $15.39 rate.

The motion was seconded by selectman Ted Doyle.

In Waterboro, the assessor sets the rate, upon the recommendation of the board of selectmen.

Bartlett presented three options to selectmen for their recommendation — leaving the rate the current 15.44 per thousand with a $97,000 overlay; the 15.39 option with a $60,000 overlay and a $15.49 option, with $134,000 overlay.

Town administrator Gary Lamb said the $97,000 overlay would be more than sufficient, the $60,000 overlay had been historically sufficient, and described the $134,000 overlay as excessive.

“I don’t think we need to go five cents more,” he said at Tuesday’s selectmen’s meeting. He pointed out that the budget for this year includes $800,000 from the town’s fund balance, rather than the traditional $500,000 figure, which also helped keep the tax rate down.

Selectman Dwayne Woodsome wondered if the $60,000 overlay that would result from the reduced tax rate would be enough to offset any tax abatements that could be forthcoming. Historically, he said the town used a $100,000 overlay.

“It should be more than enough,” said Bartlett.

Lamb in an email on Friday said the valuations are projected to stay the same, with no substantive corrections.

The vote was 3 to 1 against, with selectman Tim Neill dissenting. Chairman Dennis Abbott as absent.

Tax bills are mailed in September.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.