Harrison Thorp
Wednesday, August 21, 2013 2:49 pm

Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish ... said the board tried to keep it as low as possible (Courtesy photo)

LEBANON - Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a new mil rate of $14.50 on real estate property assessments, an increase of about 7 percent over last year’s rate of $13.58.

Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish announced the new rate today, saying, “Considering all that went on fiscally at the state level with regard to revenue sharing and other municipal cuts; Lebanon's revenue sharing was less than half what we usually receive, the Board is not surprised with the increase and grateful it was not more.”

The state’s biennium budget curtailed state aid to cities and towns, as well as school districts as it sought to tighten its fiscal belt.

Lebanon taxpayers were helped out with a reduction in the town’s expenditure for SAD 60 schools and the governor’s reduction in the curtailment with regard to revenue sharing.

The new rate, for example, means that property owners with an assessment of $100,000 will pay $1,450 for the year.

Gerrish added the town had the legal option to go as high at $15.09 but decided to keep the mil rate as low as they could to lessen the impact on taxpayers.