2020.01.24--Falmouth Focus, Volume 2, Issue 3

January 24, 2020

Focus Masthead

Please note:  This newsletter will be sent to subscribers of both the Falmouth Focus newsletter and Town News & Announcements. To subscribe only to the Falmouth Focus, visit E-Alerts.   

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Homestead Exemption Information

Cumberland County Regional Assessing, which provides real and personal property assessing services to the Town of Falmouth, has mailed out homestead exemption applications to 1,494 taxpayers in Falmouth who have been identified as potentially eligible for the homestead exemption but are not currently claiming it. The homestead exemption provides a reduction of up to $25,000 in the value of your home for property tax purposes. Note: The homestead exemption will increase from $20,000 to $25,000 for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2020.

Who qualifies for a homestead exemption?

The exemption applies to any residential property that is assessed as real property. To qualify:

  • you must be a permanent resident of Maine,
  • the home must be your permanent residence,
  • you must have owned a home in Maine for the twelve months prior to applying,
  • you may not have a homestead exemption in any other state, and
  • an application must be filed on or before April 1 with the municipality where the property is located.

How do I apply?

The homestead exemption application is available at Town Hall or you may download the application at www.maine.gov/revenue/forms/property/apps/homesteadapp.pdf. The completed application must be returned to Falmouth Town Hall or mailed to Cumberland County Regional Assessing, 25 Pearl Street, Portland, Maine, 04101. If your home has more than one owner, only one signature is required. Forms filed after April 1 of any year will apply to the next year’s tax assessment.

How much will I save?

The amount you save depends upon the tax rate or mil rate for your town. The mil rate in Falmouth is $16.87 per thousand dollars of your home’s assessed valuation. Property taxes are based on the assessed value of your home. If you are eligible for the homestead exemption, the Town will reduce your home's assessed value by up to $25,000 before applying the tax rate.

The $25,000 exemption must be adjusted by the local declared ratio. The local declared ratio is generally the percentage difference between the fair market value of your home and the local assessed value. Since your property taxes are based on the local assessed value, the $25,000 statewide exemption must be adjusted to apply to all property in the state equally. In Falmouth, the current local declared ratio is 99%, therefore, your homestead exemption is computed in the following manner: $25,000 x .99 = $24,750. The homestead exemption would reduce your property’s local assessed value by $24,750.

Example:

Susan owns a home in Falmouth, Maine. She meets all the requirements for a homestead exemption. The Town values her home at $300,000.

Falmouth’s property tax (mil rate) is $16.87 per $1,000 of the home’s assessed value.

Without the exemption Susan owes $5,061 in property taxes (300 x $16.87).

If Susan claims the exemption, the town will subtract $24,750 from her home value before figuring the tax. The new tax value of Susan’s home is $275,250.

Now Susan will owe $4,643 (275.25 x $16.87) in property tax, saving $418 with the exemption.

Do I have to apply every year?

No. Once the exemption has been approved, it will remain in effect as long as your ownership and residency status remain unchanged.

Will I get money back from the state?

It depends. Beginning in 2019, homeowners who have received the homestead exemption will be eligible for payments of $100 or more from a program called the Property Tax Relief Fund for Maine Residents. To read the law in its entirety, please click here. These payments come from extra money in Maine’s general fund. These payments are not guaranteed and may not occur every year. Homeowners will only get checks if there is enough extra money so that each homeowner with a homestead exemption will get at least $100. If there is not enough money in the fund, homeowners will not get payments that year. The State of Maine will determine if there is enough money in the fund to make payments by November 15 of each year.

In November 2019, the State determined that they would be making payments of at least $100 to about 310,000 homeowners in Maine in 2020. Payments will be sent in January and February to homeowners who applied for the homestead exemption prior to April 1, 2019. Daily batches of approximately 20,000 checks will continue until all 310,000 payments have been made. Click here to see towns included in each of the batches and order of payments to be mailed. Please look at the official Office of the State Treasurer Facebook site for updates at https://www.facebook.com/MaineOST/. For more information on this program, visit https://www.maine.gov/treasurer/property_tax_relief/index.html. There is no application or sign-up to receive a check. If you filed a homestead exemption prior to April 1, 2019 you will automatically get a check in 2020.

If you applied for the homestead exemption AFTER April 1, 2019 but PRIOR to April 1, 2020, you may receive a payment in 2021 if the State determines there are enough funds to do so. There is no extra application or sign-up for this program. You need only apply for a homestead exemption.


Home under magnifying glass

Property Revaluation Update

At the January 13 Town Council Meeting, the Town Council approved a supplemental appropriation from the Property Revaluation Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $120,000 and approved a supplemental appropriation from the Unassigned Fund Balance in the amount of $119,000 to fund a revaluation of real estate in Falmouth. The Council did not move forward on conducting a statistical market analysis ahead of the revaluation at a cost of $29,500. As noted in the December 20, 2019 issue of the Falmouth Focus, the Town awarded a contract to Vision Government Solutions to conduct the town-wide property revaluation. 

What is a revaluation and why do we need one?

Because property values fluctuate with market conditions, it is necessary to regularly conduct revaluations to ensure an equitable distribution of the tax burden. During a revaluation, all real property in the town is reviewed and assessments are adjusted to their fair market value. Falmouth’s last revaluation occurred during the 2009 fiscal year.

What is the timeline?

The revaluation will begin in spring 2020 and conclude by the summer of 2021. The results of the revaluation will be applied to November 2021 tax bills. Vision Government Solutions is currently developing a more detailed timeline. We will continue to provide updates in the Focus regarding the process, the role of homeowners, and what residents can expect in the coming year.

More Info

More information can be found regarding property revaluation in past issues of the Falmouth Focus here and here. A presentation on the topic, delivered to the Falmouth Town Council in July 2019, can be found here.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

Annual Home Energy Fair, Saturday, January 25, 10am-3pm

Home Energy Fair January 25


Falmouth Fire-EMS Blood Drive, January 31

Blood Drive January 31


Special Town Council Meeting Scheduled, February 3

 

Special Town Council Meeting Feb. 3


Short-Term Rentals Public Forum, February 6

Public Forum

The Town of Falmouth invites the public to participate in a forum discussion regarding short-term rentals in Falmouth on February 6 at 7pm in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. In the 2019-2020 Council Work Plan, the Council directed the Ordinance Committee to explore options surrounding the development of short-term rental regulations. This research was presented to the Town Council at their January 13 meeting. In this forum, staff will review their findings on the short-term rental landscape in Falmouth, ordinance development in other municipalities, and policy considerations surrounding this topic. We encourage the public to join us in this initial conversation and provide feedback on this issue. FMI: Maggie Fleming, mfleming@falmouthme.org or 207-699-5329.


Fire-EMS Workshop

Falmouth Fire-EMS Workshop for Businesses, March 19

Do you own or manage a business in Falmouth? For tips on how to make your business safer for your staff and customers please join us on March 19 from 9am to 11am for our Spring Business Fire Safety Dialogue. This will be the second dialogue Falmouth Fire-EMS has hosted. Panelists and speakers are being chosen based on the feedback from our last workshop. More details regarding speakers and topics will be forthcoming. Also, Falmouth Fire-EMS would like to remind business owners to submit a copy of your annual fire alarm report to Falmouth Fire-EMS. To submit a copy of your fire alarm and sprinkler report or for more information about our March 19 workshop please contact Captain Colin Shea at cshea@falmouthme.org.

Take Note

traffic light

Issues with Traffic Signal at Mountain & Gray Road Intersection

As construction on Route 100 continues, Public Works is aware of a timing issue with the traffic signal installed at Mountain/Gray/Falmouth Roads. The Town is working with traffic engineers and the construction team to resolve this issue. We estimate the problem will be corrected by early next week. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your continued patience with this project. Learn more about the Route 100 Project here. To receive weekly updates on this project, sign up for Route 100 E-Alerts.


West Falmouth crossing map

West Falmouth Crossing Forum Results 

Thanks to everyone who attended the January 21 public forum on West Falmouth Crossing. The results of the meeting have been posted here. The project team is currently busy reviewing these results and developing next steps. A second public forum (date TBD) will be held to review these steps. Please feel free to submit any comments or questions to Theo Holtwijk at tholtwijk@falmouthme.org.

News From Falmouth Public Schools

Click here for the January update from Falmouth Schools Superintendent Geoff Bruno and School Board Chair Danielle Tracy.

Town Council

At the Recent Meeting of Falmouth's Town Council...

January 13

  • Staff gave a presentation on short-term rental regulation research. The Council requested additional data and directed staff to schedule a public forum on the topic. [Note: The public forum has been scheduled for 7:00pm on February 6 at Town Hall in the Council Chambers.]
  • The Council passed a resolution for the Town of Falmouth to Join the Earth Day 2020 Network and to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, and Maine's Bicentennial Through a Calendar of Events in Late April-Late May 2020.
  • The Council passed ordinance amendments to Sections 7-7, 7-8, and 19-128 of the Code of Ordinances relative to abutter notification requirements for Planning Board site plan and subdivision applications.  The Council directed the Community Development Committee to consider additional means of increasing public notice.
  • There was a Public Hearing on an Ordinance for Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulations. After hearing comments from commercial applicators regarding implementation, the Council directed the Ordinance Committee to consider further revisions.
  • The Council approved a supplemental appropriation from the Property Revaluation Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $120,000 and approved a supplemental appropriation from Unassigned Fund Balance in the amount of $119,000 to fund a revaluation of real estate.
  • Due to illness, a presentation and discussion on Falmouth Fire-EMS Department current and past staffing structure and pending staffing study was postponed to January 27.

Future Anticipated Agenda Items

January 27--An agenda can be found here.  

Please note:  The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm to accommodate an executive session. The public portion of the meeting and broadcast will begin at 7:00 pm.

  • Order to go into Executive Session.
  • Public Forum
  • Report from the Appointments Committee and order regarding various vacancies on Boards and Committees.
  • Order to purchase real estate and to authorize the town manager to execute the transfer of the same.
  • Order to rescind Order 60-2020, approved at the November 25, 2019 Council meeting, to transfer $65,000 from the Street Improvement CIP Fund to the Public Works Vehicle CIP Fund.
  • Re-introduction of an Ordinance for Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulations.
  • Presentation and discussion on Falmouth Fire-EMS Department current and past staffing structure and pending staffing study.
  • Workshop discussion regarding accepting Alpine Drive and Sylvan Drive as public streets. The Workshop will include a presentation on the street acceptance process.
  • Order to authorize the Town Manager to enter into a license agreement regarding use of town property.
  • Concept discussion on the Community Development Committee’s recommendations for ordinance amendments related to kennels.

February 3--An agenda will be posted here prior to the meeting.

  • Update on recent public forums.
  • Educational presentation on road construction.
  • Discussion about future projects (Route 1/88 intersection, Blackstrap Road, and Route 1 North). 
  • Discussion regarding a request from the Falmouth Land Trust for funding for a land acquisition.  

 


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Stay Informed with the Town of Falmouth Website and E-Alerts

There are many Town committees and boards that meet on a regular basis. The events calendar on the Town of Falmouth website homepage lists upcoming board, committee, and Town Council meetings. We send E-Alerts when Town Council, Planning Board, and Board of Zoning Appeals, meeting agendas and minutes are posted to the website. Subscribe via E-Alerts to those that most interest you. Agendas and Minutes for these meetings are also posted online. Town Council, Planning Board, and School Board meetings are live-streamed on Falmouth Community TV Channel 1301 (Former Channel 2). Recordings of these meetings are also available for viewing online. Board of Zoning Appeals Meetings are not broadcast live but can be viewed online within 24 hours after the meeting. E-Alerts allows you to subscribe to specific email lists about Town-related issues that interest you. Over 70% of respondents to our Communications Methods Survey found E-Alerts to be an effective means of getting info about Town activities. The Falmouth Focus, this bi-weekly newsletter, is another way to stay in the loop. Subscribe via E-Alerts. Please let us know what kind of information you would like to see included in your town newsletter. 

Town of Falmouth, 271 Falmouth Road, Falmouth, ME 04105

207-781-5253
www.falmouthme.org

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