At a special Woolwich selectmen’s meeting Sept. 22, the board set the town’s new tax rate at $14.30 per thousand dollars of assessed value, an increase of 3.6 percent over the 2013-14 rate of $13.80.

For example, the taxes on a $200,000 home will be $100 higher than last year.

Meeting with William H. Brewer & Co., the town’s auditor, selectmen reviewed a multi-page list of expenses and income, line by line, to reach the final number.

Among the items contributing to the relatively flat rate for the coming year was a 96 percent collection rate for the current year’s property taxes.

“Tax collection in most towns,” explained Auditor Bill Brewer, “is generally at the 93-94 percent rate.”

Investment interest saw an increase of approximately $1,400 over the previous year, and the amount of motor vehicle excise tax collected increased 8 percent, which, combined with a slight increase in boat excise tax, may be an indication that the economy is improving.

A brief discussion of a line item for legal expenses was a reminder of the ongoing lawsuit brought by West Bath and claiming four years of overcharges totaling $1.9 million by Regional School Unit 1, which was filed in October 2012.

The lawsuit seeks to recover the $1.9 million plus interest, and Woolwich is one of the towns (along with Bath, Arrowsic and Phippsburg), which also sends students to the school district.

The state’s payment on its revenue-sharing commitment was a disappointment during the past year.

An estimated $96,000 for Woolwich only actually realized $89,000, so the $7,000 represented a shortfall to the municipality from the state.

According to Bill Brewer, “Most towns saw about a 33 percent reduction in what had been estimated.”

The state’s revenue-sharing payment forecast for Woolwich in the coming year is $93,000.

Overall, the high collection rate for real estate taxes, increase in interest income and shortfall from state revenue-sharing along with other line items combined to affect the new tax rate for Woolwich property owners.