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Morning Sentinel
CHINA Discussions are set as new revaluations go out
BY MARY GROW
Correspondent
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 08/20/2008

CHINA -- The just-completed property revaluation did not spare selectmen's homes.

Before Monday's meeting began, several board members compared notes on valuation increases and considered whether they would schedule meetings with assessors to seek an explanation and perhaps a revision on their own properties.

Town Manager Daniel L'Heureux said some property owners got notices of their new valuations and estimated tax bills Saturday. Some received them Monday.

Town Office staff received 35 valuation-related calls Monday, he said. Some people just asked questions; others scheduled appointments.

The 2008-09 tax included on each notice is not final until selectmen set the tax rate. They intend to do that at their meeting Sept. 2 -- delayed a day because of the Labor Day holiday. The meeting will be preceded by a 6:30 p.m. public discussion of valuation and taxes.

Property owners may go to the town's Web site and see how their valuations compare with their neighbors'.

Residents may also call the Town Office to schedule appointments to ask assessors how figures were determined, and to present information they think may have been overlooked. L'Heureux said resident Jean Brown is creating a cheery environment for the interviews. Smiley-face balloons were in place Monday evening, and Brown plans to provide coffee and baked goods.

In other business Monday evening:

• Selectmen briefly reviewed possible questions for a Nov. 2 local ballot, but made no decisions. L'Heureux said officials have a Sept. 19 deadline for getting a ballot in final form.

Issues considered for presentation to voters include funding for a windmill at the town ball fields and increasing General Assistance funding.

; closing a short piece of Jones Road; starting a program to let residents work off part of their taxes; and amending various town ordinances.

• Selectman Neil Farrington proposed developing a lease form for the old Town House basement, so selectmen will be ready to rent it out, as voters authorized at the March town business meeting. The board assigned the task to Farrington.

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