Moultonborough tax rate up 23¢ for 2012

MOULTONBOROUGH — The 2012 property tax rate has been set at $8.56 per thousand dollars of valuation and tax bills are anticipated to be mailed out by the end of this month. Payment will be due by January 2, 2013.

This new rate represents an increase of 2.76 percent from the current rate of $8.33 per thousand with the town's overall valuation staying roughly the same as the previous year.

The town's tax collector reminds taxpayers that in order to deduct real estate taxes from their 2012 federal income tax, the payment needs to be postmarked no later than December 31, 2012. Although Town Hall will be closed for business on that day, payments by check placed into the drop box at the entry door will also be eligible for the deduction.

At its meeting of November 15, the Selectboard applied roughly $430,000 of the town's fund balance (rainy day fund) to lower the overall impact of the increase.

The new rate, with a minor variance for rounding, breaks down as $2.20 per thousand for local schools, which is up 23 cents, $1.11 for the county tax, which is up 5 cents, $2.53 for the state education tax, which is down 1 cent, and $2.73 for the town tax which is down 4 cents.

Joel Mudgett, chairman of the Selectboard said, "It is never well received when the tax rate needs to go up but I am pleased that the board was able to modestly reduce the portion of the bill for which it is responsible." The tax bill mailing will also include the semi-annual newsletter with stories on recent upgrades of the Town's CodeRED community notification system, expansion of the Blue Loon bus service, the town's new year round prescription drug drop-off and other items of note.