The Rockport Town Office said Aug. 19 that the 2026-2027 mil rate has been set and it remains at the 2025-2026 rate of 13.65.

"The Town of Rockport has completed its annual tax commitment and is pleased to announce that the 2026 municipal property tax rate will remain unchanged from the previous year," said the town, in a news release.

The mil rate is the math unit used to calculate how much to tax a piece of property to fund voter-approved budgets. A mil is the tax per $1,000 in assessed value. For example, a home with an assessed value of $150,000 and a mil rate of 20 ($20 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value) would pay $3,000 in annual property taxes.

The property taxes are what fund the various budgets that voters approved at annual town meeting in June. Those budgets include the municipal budget, as well as Rockport's share in supporting Knox County government, the Five Town CSD (Appleton, Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport ownership of Camden Hills Regional High School), the School Administrative District (Camden and Rockport shared ownership of their K-8 schools) and the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Corporation (Camden, Hope, Lincolnville and Rockport).

The 2026-2027 gross municipal budget is $12,476,332, and the net municipal budget (the amount that Rockport taxpayers are to support) is $8,360,741.

Rockport's share of the SAD 28 budget totaled 8,458,422, and the Five Town CSD budget share was $5,017,772.

The Adult Ed assessment was $92,444.

The Knox County 2025 assessment for Rockport was $1,924,232.

Those combined numbers were are divided by the town’s total taxable valuation, along with calculating in other fiscal information, such as state revenue sharing and tax increment financing numbers. With that figure, Rockport Assessor Kerry Leichtman has set the 2026 mil rate and property tax bills are now being sent to Rockport taxpayers.

Rockport said there will be no increase in the property tax rate for the second consecutive year, "reflecting the Town's continued commitment to responsible financial management and long-term fiscal stability," the release said. "Voters approved the 2027 net municipal budget in June which decreased from the prior year, down $78,693, or 0.94%.

"The Town’s total property valuation increase can be attributed to housing construction and an increase in Central Maine Power’s facilities."

The first payment installment will be due Oct. 15, with the second installment due on April 15, 2027.

"Maintaining the same tax rate as last year is positive news for Rockport taxpayers," said Town Manager Jonathan Duke, in the release. "Through careful budgeting and financial planning by our staff, Select Board and Budget Committee, the Town has been able to continue providing essential services while avoiding an increase in the tax rate."

Residents with questions regarding property valuations may contact the Assessing Office. Questions regarding tax bills or account information may be directed to the Town Office.

Rockport’s mil rate has fluctuated over the past decade, and reflects ever-changing factors; in 2006, it was 9.06; in 2003, it was 15.95.

More recently, the mil rate has been:

2025, 13.65
2024, 14.25
2023, 12.65
2022, 15.45
2021, 17.05
2020, 16.81