CAMDEN – With overall taxable property valuation decreasing in Camden this year, and with an increase in the town's share to carry school costs, Camden taxpayers may be facing rising property taxes.

The Camden Select Board will decide this evening when it convenes for a regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Washington Street Meeting Room what the town's mil rate will be. There, Wesley Robinson, the town's assessor's agent, will present a range of options. In a memo to the board, he wrote that the town's valuation decreased by $652,700 to $1,101,704,080. The mil rate this current fiscal year is 13.46; Robinson is estimating an increase that could range from 13.67 to 13.72, depending on how the board considers various scenarios presented this evening.

If the mil rate increases to 13.67, a homeowner with property valued at $250,000 would see taxes increase by $52 to $3,417. With a mil rate of 13.72, the taxes would increase by $10 to $3,430.

Although the ratio of assessments to real estate sales increased to 93 percent from 91 percent, "meaning that sales prices were closer to their assessed valuations," he wrote, assessments still remain below real estate selling prices.

Robinson said commercial property projects are under way, generally on Bay View Street and at the Applewood Apartments on Pearl Street. Still, it was residential property that saw the largest increase in valuation. Robinson attributed that to the completion of condominiums at Knox Mill East, new homes in the Lupine Terrrace subdivision off of Cobb Road, and several new single family dwellings.

Camden taxpayers must produce $14.9 million to fund its combined school, town and county budgets. According to Robinson, the largest single change was a $201,095 increase in Camden's share of education, through School Administrative District 28 (Camden-Rockport Elementary and Camden-Rockport Middle schools) and the Five Town CSD (Camden Hills Regional High School).

The state's valuation of Camden decreased again this year by $37 million to $1.223 billion. The decrease reflects general economic conditions, said Robinson, adding that Camden is holding it value better than other towns in the state. In 2011, the state valuation was $1.250 billion; 2010, $1.271 billion, as it was also in 2009; in 2008, it was $1.262; 2007, 1.161 billion; 2006, 1.116 billion.

In other town business:

The Select Board will vote on the town's Nov. 6 warrant, which includes this fall just two ordinance amendments. One addresses nonconformance zoning, the other, the easing of signage restrictions.

Absentee ballots will be available Oct. 5 at the town office. For more information, call Katrina Oakes, 236-3353, ext 116.  A sample ballot will be available at the end of September at the town's website.

The board will consider snowmaking and grooming equipment purchases for the Camden Snow Bowl. Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Kuller said in a Sept. 11 memo that in order to improve snowmaking speed and efficiency, he is proposing the purchase of 10 new snow guns 15 hydrants to add to the existing snowmaking pipe.

"The retail cost of this purchase is $54,250," he wrote. "An application has been made to Efficiency Maine for a rebate between 25 and 75 percent for the cost of this equipment."

Kuller said the equipment purchase could save more than $10,000 in electricity costs per year. He also said the Ragged Mountain Redevelopment Committee and Ragged Mountain Recreation Area Foundation support the purchase, as well as using redevelopment funds to reimburse the town, even if no rebate was available.

The Snow Bowl is also requesting approval of a 2008 Pisten Bully 600 snow groomer. The engine has 4,704 hours on it, and the cost is $125,000.

"A $25,000 trade-in will be applied from turning in our PB 300," he said. That machine is 14 years old. The Capital Improvement Plan has included a $35,000 annual payment for this purchase.

 The complete agenda follows:

Town of Camden Select Board Meeting Sept. 18, 2012, 6:30 p.m.

Convene as Board of Assessors
1. Consideration of the following documents to establish the annual tax commitment: Municipal Tax Rate Calculation Form, Certificate of Assessment to Municipal Treasurer, Assessor‟s Certification of Assessment, and the County Assessors Return.
Adjourn

Select Board Meeting
1. CalltoOrder
2.    Citizen Comments (for items not the agenda) This time is set aside for members of the public to comment on any town-related issue that is not on the agenda. We ask that people keep comments within 3 minutes
3.    Communications, Presentations, and Recognitions
    
Ragged Mountain Redevelopment Committee MMA „s “Superior Award” for the 2012 Camden Annual Report Windjammer Festival Committee letter of thanks

4.    Approval of Select Board Minutes dated September 4, 2012

5.    Select Board Member Reports

6.    Town Manager Report

7.    OldBusiness-None

8. Licenses
A. Application of Kipp Wright and Elizabeth O‟Connor d/b/a/ Abigail‟s Inn at 8 High Street for a renewal Victualer‟s License and Lodging Establishment License.
Page 1 of 3B. by Colin Sullivan Stevens of Camden for a Hawking and Peddling License on the Public Landing

9. New Business A. Authorize the Town Manager to submit a Maine Coastal Program Planning Grant
Application to develop a Master Plan for a pedestrian walkway (River to Harbor Walk)

B. Authorize the Town Manager to submit a Maine Coastal Program Planning Grant Application to develop a master plan for the Public Landing

C. Consideration of the FY 2013 Snow Bowl budget

D. Consideration of the Snow Bowl rental fee rates

E. Request to approve the Ragged Mt. Redevelopment Committee‟s purchase of snow guns for the Camden Snow Bowl

F.    Request to approve a lease purchase of a “Piston Bully” snow grooming machine

G. Consideration and award of bid to provide concession services at the Snow Bowl

H. Consideration of bid award for the installation of dolphin and pilings for the new float system in Camden Harbor

I.    Consideration of bid award for 2013 Sand and Salt Bids in collaboration with the County.

J.    Authorize the Town Manager to enter into a contract with Prock Marine to Dredge the Inner Harbor

K. Approval of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting on November 6, 2012

L.    of the appointment of Deborah Dodge as Election Warden for the Nov. 6, 2012 General Referendum Election and Special Town Meeting

M. Consideration of setting the Registrar‟s office hours for the upcoming November 6, 2012 General Referendum Election and Special Town Meeting as the Clerk‟s regular business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 am – 3:30 pm and the 1st & 3rd from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

N. Authorize the Town Manager to enter into an Agreement to designate Camden First Aid Association as the Town‟s Primary EMS and Transport service provider

O. Decision to rent or lease any of the commercial passenger vessel float space or berthing slips and fisherman‟s floats for the upcoming year

P. Consideration of request from Chamber of Commerce to use the Village Green on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 from 7:30 am to 5 p.m. to provide visitor information to the passengers of the cruise ship Jewel of the Seas arriving by bus

10. Select Board Closing Comments Adjourn

Meeting Dates in October

Tuesday, Oct .2, Select Board Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 16, Workshop (WSCR is unavailable –Pop!Tech has all meeting spaces from Tuesday, Oct. 12- Sun Oct 21
Tuesday, Oct. 23, Select Board meeting

PenBayPilot Editorial Director can be reached at lyndaclancy@PenBayPilot.com; 207-706-6657