The assessor’s office is conducting a town-wide property revaluation inspring 2024. A revaluation is the process of updating all property values in town to reflect their current market value (i.e., to maintain reasonable estimates of what each property could sell for on the open market). The last revaluation was performed in 2019. The intent of […]
Leader Opinion
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Ruralist Lament: That awful thing
It’s raining again today, as it has for much of this summer. So instead of trudging around in the mud all day, questing for corn, spuds and the rest, my attention turns briefly to finding a topic timely and perhaps of interest to the reader. As we approach the end of summer, September beckons and […]
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Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
In the Know: 2023-2024 tax rate set
The 2023-2024 property tax rate has been set by the town assessor; it was committed on Aug. 16. The Town of Scarborough’s new tax rate is now $15.97 per $1,000 of property value for the 2024 fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The new rate applies to the taxes […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, South Portland Sentry, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta – Helping older Mainers afford their property taxes
Rising property taxes can be a major burden for many older Mainers. In Augusta, I work diligently with my colleagues to pass measures to make sure Mainers most in need get relief. This year, my colleagues and I replaced the unworkable Senior Property Tax Stabilization Program with more targeted property tax relief. We had to […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
From Augusta: PFAS still a problem
PFAS is still a bit of a mystery. Forever chemicals have been found on close to 60 farms across the state, but it’s not just farms that are affected. The chemicals move through the soil to the ground water and as a result, well water has been contaminated for neighboring properties. Fire fighters have been […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Nature Notes: Protecting floodplains and wetlands key to protecting community
Rain, rain, rain. We experienced a wet and cold spring, and so far, are enjoying a wet summer, yet we have escaped the devasting floods experienced in sections of Vermont and New York. We are no strangers to rain in New England. Average annual precipitation for Scarborough is 45.6 inches. The National Weather Service has […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
In the Know: Town boards and committees updated
The Town of Scarborough has several citizen-led boards and committees working on issues to enhance our community. See what some of the active boards and committees have been up to in the past few months. Find the full details on the Town of Scarborough website, shared in our latest Board & Committee Newsletter. Conservation Commission […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
In the Know: LD 290 “Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens” repealed by State Legislature; two tax relief programs being expanded
The LD 290 “Property Tax Stabilization for Senior Citizens” program, enacted in August 2022, was repealed by the Maine Legislature on July 6, 2023, with an effective date of Oct. 11, 2023. The popularly regarded program had allowed Maine seniors 65 and older who owned a permanent residence for at least 10 years and were […]
Posted inBiddeford-Saco-OOB Courier, Southern Maine Weeklies
Scarborough K-2 schools need more space for students
One of the disappointing side effects of the current (and growing) overcrowding of our K-2 schools is the reduction in specialist time due to lack of adequate space. Those who have followed the unified school project closely, have heard this echoed often. And for good reason, this is an unfortunate but representative example of the […]
Posted inScarborough Leader, Southern Maine Weeklies
Council Corner: Finding a Solution for Scarborough Schools
It is not lost on me that the process to get to a potential referendum on a new school project has been a long and winding road that most residents in town have not fully traveled. There have been stops and starts, not to mention a global pandemic, since I first voted against the proposal […]