Portland has started a yearlong process to revaluate all property in the city. The assessed value of your property will impact how much you pay in taxes next year.
Grace Benninghoff
Staff Writer
Grace covers city hall and Greater Portland for the Press Herald. She previously covered reproductive health for Texas Monthly and served as the local host of All Things Considered at Vermont Public. Before moving to Maine, Grace attended Columbia Journalism School in New York City and spent many years in Colorado and Oregon working in the non-profit sector. When she isn't reporting you can find her trail-running with her dog Loma, practicing her Spanish, surfing, or making pottery.
Portland is reassessing all property – again – to stay on top of rising values
The City Council recommended in 2021 that Portland do a reassessment every 5 years because of the rapidly changing housing market. While taxes jumped for many back then, Portland’s assessor says the impact isn’t expected to be as drastic this time.
‘Get to know who you’ll spend eternity with’: A small cemetery in Maine has an unusual tradition
Anyone who owns a plot in Weld’s Mountain View Cemetery is invited to gather each August to get to know the people they’ll be buried beside.
Portland leaders say Israel divestment vote was symbolic, but it has divided the community
When the Portland City Council voted 2 weeks ago to divest in companies doing business in Israel, some in the city’s Jewish community said they felt blindsided because they only learned about it hours before.
Portland Water District’s general manager steps down
Seth Garrison was appointed to the role nearly 2 years ago. He took a leave of absence in the spring before resigning on Aug. 26.
Portland City Council OKs $1 million loan for child care expansion, affordable housing project
Youth and Family Outreach plans to double the number of its child care slots to 110 and build 48 affordable and 12 market-rate apartments. The proposal, which received the council’s unanimous support, also calls for tearing down a 175-year-old chapel.
Portland’s public health director resigns for job at UNE
Alfredo Vergara’s last day as the city’s director of public health was Aug. 30, almost 2 years exactly from when he first started the job.
Portland considers changes to needle exchange program after growing complaints
Mayor Mark Dion wants to limit the number of needles the city gives out. But the public health department is exploring less drastic measures, like a potential syringe buy-back program.
Portland City Hall is becoming a wedding destination
The number of city hall weddings in Portland has gone up nearly 500% since 2020 as a growing number of people look to opt out of traditional ceremonies.
Life After Artie: Lewiston shooting victim’s father finds purpose in gun reform
Before his son was killed in the massacre last fall, Arthur Barnard hadn’t voted in decades, flown on a plane or met with U.S. senators. All of that has changed.