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Residents urge Portland leaders to use state funds for tax relief
Summary
At the selectmen meeting residents urged using unexpected state supplemental education funds to lower the mill rate, citing rising living costs and senior hardship; speakers called for either a full rebate to taxpayers or a split that preserves school needs.
Multiple Portland residents told the Board of Selectmen on June 21 that the town should use the statesupplemental education funding to reduce property taxes rather than give the entire allocation to schools.
Steve Marcus (48 Summer Street) said the windfall should go toward lowering the mill rate and suggested future consideration for senior tax freezes. Rick Char (168 Middle Hatam Road) and Judy Grippo (10 Middle Hatam Road) echoed calls for returning the money to taxpayers or splitting it to cover urgent town needs while acknowledging the new school project. Mary Pelton and Jennifer Tulone also urged tax relief. Meg Scott outlined advocacy work that led to state aid and warned of a revenue cliff if the town uses a one-time payment to permanently lower recurring revenue without a plan.
Public commenters emphasized that households are coping with rising costs for health insurance, fuel and groceries, and many seniors on fixed incomes need immediate relief. The board heard the public remarks before detailed budget deliberations and the mill-rate vote.
The board later adopted a plan allocating $200,000 to the Board of Education and using the balance to reduce the mill rate. Selectmen said the town must document how the state funds are spent and report per state guidance.
