When Edgecomb residents open their tax bills next week, they will see an 8.8 percent increase. The selectmen finalized the 2016-2017 tax commitment on July 18 by approving a 16.55 mil rate. Last year’s mil rate was 15.2.

The mil rate is the dollars per thousand dollars of value that property owners pay in property taxes. An owner with a property valued at $200,000 would pay $3,310 in taxes. The Edgecomb tax bills will also show how much is going to the county, school and municipality. The bills indicate 7.4 percent goes to Lincoln County, 62.4 percent to the school budget, and 30.2 for the municipal budget.

Voters approved a combined $3,871,145 municipal and school budget in May which increased spending by $144,609 or 3.88 percent. The selectmen attributed the mil rate increase to higher county taxes and education spending along with voters’ decision to purchase additional technology for online motor vehicle registration and a new municipal website.

Town Clerk and Treasurer Claudia Coffin said the tax bills would likely be mailed next week.

Last week, the selectmen held a special meeting to consider options for reducing the mil rate. They proposed using $50,000 from surplus, but the additional funds didn’t significantly impact the mil rate, according to Selectman Mike Smith.

Besides the new spending approved at the town meeting, Edgecomb is making annual payments on past obligations. The town will make payments on the school building until 2021 and fire station until 2030. The selectmen also said this year’s road construction budget makes a significant impact on municipal spending.

Smith and fellow selectman Ted Hugger both said they have concerns about town spending “spiraling out of control.”

“We are close to living beyond our means,” Hugger said. “We all need to start looking at ways to streamline where we can, and start cutting costs. By taking action now, we will be better able to control the financial situation four to five years down the road and avoid making some really tough decisions in the future.”

Selectmen will begin working with the various town committees and departments by focusing on budgets throughout the year, instead of beginning in January and February, according to Smith and Hugger.

In other action, the board discussed adopting new municipal cyber and email liability and building use policies. The town received notification that its Maine Municipal Association liability insurance included coverage for cyber and email liability, but Edgecomb didn’t qualify because it didn’t have an official procedure in place for municipal cell phone, internet and email usage. The selectmen reviewed the town of Southport’s cyber and email policy and discussed other potential options.

Hugger reported that town officials may need to use an official internet municipal email domain name and address to comply with the state’s Freedom of Access Act and qualify for the MMA insurance.

The selectmen also discussed a proposal for changing the fee structure for renting the town hall. Hugger proposed a two-tiered fee structure: one for residents and another for non-residents. Residents would pay $100 for a half-day or $125 for a full-day (more than four hours). Non-residents would pay $125 for a half-day, and $150 for a full day. Both fee structures include a $50 cleaning deposit.

The current fee is $75 for a half day and $100 for a full day for all renters. The fee includes a $25 cleaning deposit.

Smith and Hugger tabled the new municipal cyber and email liability and building use policies until Selectman Jack Sarmanian provided his input. Sarmanian missed the meeting because he is counseling military personnel at a New York State military base as part of his American Red Cross volunteerism. He is expected to attend the next board meeting in two weeks, according to Smith.

The selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 1 in the municipal building.