During the October 21 meeting of the Lubec Select Board, the selectmen voted 5-0 to set the property tax rate for the upcoming commitment at 19 mills, an increase of 23.4% from the previous rate of 15.4. This increase is driven by a number of factors, the greatest one being the nearly 23% hike in the local share for the school budget.
      The meeting was rescheduled for Monday evening instead of the long standing Wednesday schedule, reportedly to allow the participation of the Assessor's Agent Marc Perry, who was present to explain the tax computations. Additionally, technical difficulties prevented the meeting from being televised or recorded electronically, as is common practice. There was very little public participation.
      Perry presented the annual tax rate calculation form that includes the amounts of each category, leading to a lengthy discussion. The form shows the current local taxable real estate valuation of $219,066,300, a decrease from last year's total of $221,879,767, which was calculated prior to the recent town wide reassessment.
      The municipal appropriation for the upcoming year totals $1,925,351, an increase of approximately 5%. The local education appropriation totals $2,439,636, an increase of 22.9%. The county tax is $456,544, an increase of 20.1%.
      Of the three budget increases, the local education appropriation has the largest impact on the taxes. The school budget for MSAD 19 was approved by 61 voters during a contentious referendum held on June 13, following three public workshops and a number of committee meetings, all open to the public. At the time of the referendum, then board Chair Richard Huntley expressed his dismay at the limited public interest during the budget development process, when input was solicited.
      During the referendum, a small group of naysayers objected to most articles, but few suggestions were offered. Article 10, dealing with facilities maintenance, requested $507,639, prompting a reminder from Huntley that the school is currently dealing with many years of deferred maintenance. AOS 77 Superintendent MaryEllen Day seconded Huntley's comment, pointing out that, when the school was first built, it was a "great building" but now needed to be maintained. The single article requiring a paper ballot, dealing with the additional local share beyond the state's Essential Programs and Services requirement, passed by a 40-21 margin.
      The increases in the school and municipal budgets and the county tax, together with a reduction in the state municipal revenue sharing to $177,824, a 41.7% decrease, and a drop in other revenues such as excise tax revenue and tree growth reimbursement to $343,720, or 5.8%, result in the 23.4% increase in the mill rate. Including the two allowable deductions, the total amount to be raised by taxes is $4,299,987, an increase of 15.9%.
      At the 19 mill tax rate, a property assessed by the town at $100,000 will be taxed $1,900. For comparison, the mill rate in Eastport is 28.5.

Burned building cleanup
      In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Alex Henry informed the board that the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to an accelerated cleanup plan for the remains of the recently burned building by the town wharf, due to its location over open water. According Fire Chief Robert Hood, as of October 22 no report has been received from the State Fire Marshal's Office regarding the origin of the fire.
      Select board Chair Carol Dennison informed the board that the 2025 Fourth of July fireworks display will be priced at $5,000, as in the past; however, due to high anticipated demand the price for 2026, the nation's 250th birthday, will be $7,500.