For the fourth consecutive year, Westport Island residents are seeing a decrease in the town’s mil rate from $7.20 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2016-17 to $6.60 in 2017-18. For every $100,000 of assessed value, property owners will see a reduction in tax of $60 over the previous year.

Meeting Monday, Aug. 28, selectmen signed the new rate. The 2014-15 rate was $7.51 and the 2015-16 rate was $8.15.

Tax bills were mailed Aug. 25. Asked what contributed to the decrease, Chairman George Richardson, Jr. said the education tab was down significantly, from $716,513 to $658,259.

“This lower mil rate is despite the loss of $3,571.04 in taxes from the sale of the Squam Creek property to (Kennebec Estuary Land Trust),” Richardson said. The 144-acre property is currently being taxed at 5 percent of its value. Richardson said the selectmen relied on “good fiscal management” to keep the mil rate one of the lowest in Lincoln County.

The town received a $760 dividend check from Maine Municipal Association. The payment from an MMA fund is based on the number of claims for losses during the previous year.

Selectmen will attend a client seminar on Sept. 28 held by the law firm Jensen Baird Gardner and Henry to review new legislation including the state’s marijuana law.

In a stark contrast to modern concerns, Richardson provided copies of annual town reports from the 1800’s. One report dated 1895, when the town had three schools, shows total resources for the town of $503.75 and lists payments to local teachers for salary and board that ranged between $115 and $216 for the year.

Proposals for the town hall painting project are due by Friday, Sept. 1. Because the selectmen will not meet on Labor Day, the bids are tentatively scheduled to be opened at the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 11.