HOULTON, Maine – Tax bills for Houlton property owners will get an extension beyond the October due date and an interest reprieve until Dec. 28.
On Monday night, the Houlton Town Council voted to extend the property tax due date from Oct. 15 to Dec. 28. Interest will accrue on bills paid after the Dec. 28 due date, according to town officials.
“It’s the best we could do for taxpayers,” said Councilor Jane Torres.
A recent market adjustment raised many property values by 40 percent or more. And even with the reduced mill rate from 22.6 to 20.6, taxes on some properties increased considerably. A property previously valued at $64,000 may have had a tax bill of $1,440, but with a new valuation of $124,400, the taxes could be about $ 2,562.
“Some changed more than others,” Assessor Terry Duff said. “The higher-end market for better quality homes that need no work has gone up higher than the market for houses that need a lot of work.”
This was the first adjustment in 18 years and the new values reflect the market today, not two decades earlier, said Duff.
As the valuations go up, the property taxes may also rise, she said.
The Maine Revenue Service requires all towns and cities to assess properties every 10 years. In 2022, Houlton property owners only received 95 percent of their approved Homestead, Blind and Veterans exemptions because it had been so long since the town revalued properties.
With the new market adjustment, the town’s ratios are back within the state’s required range and property owners qualifying for Homestead, Blind or Veteran’s exemptions will get 100 percent of their tax exemptions this year, she said.
Of the town’s 3,109 properties, 333 property valuations increased more than 40 percent; 17 neighborhoods were more than 40 percent and the remaining 86 were below 40 percent, according to Duff.
Duff completed the market adjustments, saving the town nearly $400,000. And she used property data on file with the town, current market conditions and values, sales and updated cost schedules, to determine current valuations.
Detailed property information is online at the town’s property assessment page. Click on the tax map section and then search by address or name to get the current property information.
This information not only lists the owner and square footage, in-depth property cards include condition, photos and drawings, acreage, number of rooms, number of bathrooms, basements, garages, year built, renovations, heating and cooling systems, porches and other property features.
Houlton property tax bills are now due Dec. 28.
