Deer Isle Selectmen propose 5.6 percent spending increase

Property revaluation to kick offthis spring

- LESLIE LANDRIGAN

SELECTMEN: First town-wide property revaluation since 1982

DEER ISLE—The Deer Isle Selectmen recommend a 5.6 percent increase in the town’s spending for 2020, with increases for road paving and maintenance, the transfer station, and the reassessment and revaluation of Deer Isle properties.

Last year, Deer Isle spent $1,330,077.68, $329,908.31 under budget.

“The tax rate is likely to be virtually unchanged [for 2020],” Town Manager Jim Fisher wrote in an email. “We are tapping into reserves to pay for some of the increased spending, but are spending less of our undesignated surplus.

“That said, about 75 percent of the property taxes go to education. If educational costs increase, they will have an impact on tax rates.”

Deer Isle’s school payment in 2019 was $3,851,820.63.