Residents tell Bangor City Council rising property taxes are driving housing instability

At the Bangor City Council meeting on July 8, 2025, multiple residents used the public comment period to urge councilors to address rising property taxes and the city's growing homelessness problem.

The most direct appeal came from Scott Hardy, who said rising property taxes were creating a "horrifying trend" that he tied to an increase in homelessness. "For many Bangor residents, especially those on fixed incomes, rising taxes are not just an inconvenience. They are a direct threat to their ability to keep a roof over their heads," Hardy said. He asked the council to consider whether the city's property tax collection rate has declined and argued that a falling collection rate could indicate residents are being taxed beyond their ability to pay.

Amy Baldwin, a local realtor and Bangor resident, echoed concerns about fixed-income homeowners and urged the council to explore targeted relief. "We're losing the wisdom and stability that these long-term residents bring to our neighborhoods, simply because they can no longer afford to stay," Baldwin said, suggesting tax-deferral programs or expanded homestead exemptions so seniors can "age in place with dignity." Baldwin also said Bangor bears a disproportionate share of the region's homelessness burden because the city provides vital services.

A third speaker, homeowner Chris Hendricks, raised a separate but related local concern about property maintenance and code enforcement, saying a neighboring property had an accumulation of trash and that repeated visits to the code enforcement office had not produced results. Hendricks asked for a staff member to follow up after the meeting and offered to provide photos.

Comments came during the meeting's allotted public comment period, which the council said is for residents to address city business not on the agenda; councilors do not generally debate or respond during that period. Speakers asked for greater transparency on how tax dollars are spent and better oversight to avoid what they described as avoidable costs that increase the city's tax burden.

Councilors did not take formal action during the public comment period. The concerns raised were entered into the meeting record and will remain part of the public record for council consideration in future budget and policy discussions.

The public comment period at the July 8 meeting also included other remarks not related to city business; those comments are not included here because they did not address municipal policy or operations.