Raymond Board of Selectmen Set and Hold
Local Tax Rate Steady
by Mike Reynolds, Vice Chairman
The Raymond Board of Selectmen met with Contract Assessor Mike O'Donnell
of John E. O'Donnell and Associates on Tuesday, September 18th,
to commit property taxes and set the fiscal year 2007/2008 tax rate.
I am pleased to inform Raymond residents that we were able to hold the tax
rate at its present level of $10.20 per thousand valuation. At the outset
of this year's budget development process the Board of Selectmen
established several performance criteria for town staff in order to
accomplish this end. Through a genuine team effort of town and school
staff, working closely together with the Selectmen, School Committee and
Budget Finance Committee this significant accomplishment was made
possible. Holding the tax rate steady did not require compromises that
would jeopardize the town's long term financial position. In that regard
it would have actually been possible to lower the tax rate slightly. It is
important to note that lowering taxes would have resulted in a lower than
acceptable overlay and provided little relief to individual taxpayers. The
Selectmen elected to continue their ongoing program of responsible
day-to-day financial management while at the same time planning for and
ensuring the long term stability of the town.
Tax bills are expected to be mailed from the Town Office during the week
of September 25th and are due on October 31, 2007 for the first
half, and April 30, 2008 for the second half.
