Spring is right around the corner, which at the Town brings with it budget season (late March to early June) and an anticipation for summer programs, seasonal hiring, and more. This spring differs from others with a revaluation in process, changes to FEMA flood maps, a newly announced Gorham Connector project, and a new school building committee starting up. Read on to learn more, and find out about other program and event dates.

We're just a few days out from the start of daylight saving time beginning on Sunday, March 10. Clocks will go ahead one hour and give us later sunsets.

Municipal Budget Review Process Starts this Spring

At the end of March each year, the Town Manager proposes the budget for the fiscal year ahead. The FY25 budget will be presented to the Town Council on Wednesday, March 27. Labor is anticipated to be a significant cost driver for the total budget, and it will also include investments that help Scarborough plan for its future and support the quality of our town for residents. We'll share more reminders for the presentation as it nears, and will be doing highlights of what's included in the budget in the months ahead.

School Building Committee to Meet Weekly

The new School Building Advisory Committee had their second meeting on February 26. They expect to continue meeting on Mondays at 6:00pm. All meetings will be recorded and available to view on the School's YouTube channel. Committee leadership was elected in their first meeting. They will also be supported by Nick McGee and April Sither of the Town Council and Leanne Kailionis and Jillian Trapini-Huff of the School Board. The 2/26 meeting was spent discussing a communications subcommittee and evident immediate needs once it's formed. They also spent time identifying the current problems that need to be addressed in order to formulate a problem statement to direct their next steps.

Scarborough (along with other Maine communities) will be required to update its flood maps this June. Flood zone determination for each property in Scarborough is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The current FEMA flood maps used by the Town of Scarborough are from 1986. After a lengthy appeal process and map revisions for some communities, the Town of Scarborough received notice from FEMA in December 2023 indicating June 20, 2024 as the effective date of the new Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) for Cumberland County. Flood maps are used by mortgage lenders to determine insurance requirements and will affect some properties that were formerly not in a flood zone.

Town Council Workshop to Learn More

This will be a continued topic of communications this spring. The Town Council will host a workshop on FEMA flood map changes on Wednesday, March 20 at 5:30pm. Sue Baker, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) State Coordinator with the Maine Department of Agriculture, will present an introduction to floodplain management and NFIP 101.

April 1 Tax Relief Deadlines

The Assessing Department oversees property tax relief programs and exemptions for eligible individuals and properties. Most programs are administered through the State, while others are applied at the local level. See all Programs on the Tax Relief page of our website. All applications must be filed on or before April 1st unless indicated otherwise. Please check the application for the appropriate deadline date. All applications are available online or in the Assessing office, located on the lower level of Town Hall (come through the back entrance of Town Hall). Please contact their office at (207) 730-4063 if you have any questions.

Revaluation & Factors that May Impact Your Tax Bill Next Year

The Scarborough Assessing Department is currently performing the data analysis and review tasks necessary for the upcoming 2024 Revaluation of all properties in town to ensure a fair and thorough revaluation process. We want taxpayers to be aware that a revaluation is occurring and why it is necessary this year. We believe it is essential to offer transparency to ensure residents are informed about the potential factors that may impact your property’s assessed value and, consequently, your tax bills.

In two recent Town meetings, the Assessor presented information to the Town Council (Jan. 17th) and the Finance Committee (Feb. 8th) about the 2024 Revaluation process (presentation slides and video recordings of those meetings are available on the Assessing Department’s website under 2024 Revaluation). Here are some key takeaways from those meetings, and factors that could have an impact on residents’ 2024-2025 property tax bills. Some factors are directly related to the revaluation, and some are not; however, the combination of any of them will very likely lead to changes in your annual taxes:

1) Annual Budget Changes: Though this is not a function of the Assessor or a product of the revaluation, the amount of money needed to be raised through property taxes could have an effect on your tax bill. The Town Council will be diligently working on the 2024-2025 Budget process in April-May, so any possible change in approved expenditures or planned revenues has not yet been determined. 

2) Relative Increase in Assessed Value: In its essence, a revaluation is conducted to ensure that all properties are valued accurately, and therefore that all taxpayers pay their fair share. It’s possible that your property’s assessed value may increase more than other people’s, or vice versa. The most common reasons why a given property’s assessment may increase more than the town-wide average would be: (A) If your property had any new construction or renovations in the last year; (B) If, in the course of data review, the Assessing Department discovered an error and made a necessary correction to accurately reflect the description, quality, or condition of your property; or (C) If sale prices of properties similar to yours have increased more than other types of properties or other parts of Town.

3) Potential “shift” of the Tax Burden from Commercial to Residential properties: Although it is still too early in the process for us to know the new assessed values, we have observed that home values have risen faster than commercial real estate in neighboring communities who have performed a revaluation in the last 1-2 years. To be clear, this potential “shift” of the tax burden from Commercial to Residential is still unknown, but is seemingly likely to occur to some extent based on preliminary information. This information will become clearer in May and will be relayed to residents as soon as it’s available.

4) Elimination of State’s Senior Property Tax Stabilization Program: Over 1,800 Scarborough households benefited from the State’s former Property Tax Stabilization program, which provided some relief on the 2023-2024 tax bills for eligible Senior taxpayers. The tax savings experienced last year will now once again be the responsibility of the owner. So, even if there were not a revaluation occurring this year, these seniors would experience two years’ worth of budget increases in one year. To help soften this unfortunate hardship resulting from the State’s decision to end this program, the Town Manager intends to include funding in the FY25 budget request to increase the maximum benefit amount by $250 for Scarborough’s local, income-based, senior Property Tax Assistance Program which benefits over 400 eligible senior households each year. While we await this possible change to the program, 2024 applications will not yet be available for another 1-2 months, which is still well in advance of the October 2024 application deadline. If you have already applied for this program in the past, you will be mailed an application when they are finalized.  

The Assessing Department greatly appreciates your patience and understanding as we work to complete the remaining tasks in the revaluation process. As soon as we have a clear picture of the actual new assessment information, we will communicate this promptly. We are committed to keeping you informed about the potential impacts on your tax bills and providing any assistance or clarification you may need. We understand the significance of property taxes and their impact on finances, so we are dedicated to offering support and timely communication. Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for more information to help you prepare for the next phases of the Revaluation and the FY25 Budget process.

Contact the Assessing office with any questions at (207) 730-4060 or assessing@scarboroughmaine.org.

The Presidential Primary for Maine is on Tuesday, March 5. This selects a candidate in each party for the general election. Unenrolled voters now have the option to vote in any party primary without having to enroll in the party.

Absentee ballots can be mailed or returned in person at the Clerk's office on or before Election Day. Voting on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5, will be at the Scarborough High School that day from 7:00am-8:00pm. Look for the "Vote Here" sign at the entrance.

Areas of Scarborough will experience an increase in the presence of aircraft and associated noise from April through July. The Portland Jetport has planned construction related to the elimination of two taxiways and the construction of a new taxiway stub. The construction will require temporary changes to how their runways are used and bring flight patterns over parts of Scarborough. Construction will occur between April 22 and July 31 with additional work planned for September 11-25.

Village Commons is a new Avesta Housing community in Scarborough for households 55 and over. They are now accepting applications for residents who meet the qualifications. Village Commons is part of Firehouse Village, a redevelopment of the former Oak Hill public safety complex on Route 1 in Scarborough. The energy-efficient building was recently completed and will provide much needed affordable homes for older adults with low incomes. It is comprised of 31 one-bedroom units, onsite laundry, onsite parking, and a community room. Learn more and find the online application on the Avesta Housing website.

The Town Council held a workshop on Wednesday, February 21st to learn more about the proposed Gorham Connector and its impact on Scarborough. The Gorham Connector is a proposed new toll road that would link the Maine Turnpike at Exit 45 to the Gorham Bypass off Route 114 in Gorham. The project is supported by the communities of Gorham, Scarborough, South Portland and Westbrook. Learn more on the project page of the Town's website, which redirects to the Maine Turnpike Authority for project details.

Park Hop Egg Hunt Starts Today

March 1-22

The Easter Bunny visited Scarborough and dropped eggs all over town! Can you retrace the Bunny’s tracks and help find the eggs? Keep an eye on our website and Community Services Facebook page for a coloring page map to retrace the Bunny's tracks and help find the eggs. Once you've drawn the design seen on each egg, drop it off at the SCS Hub or email it to comserv@scarboroughmaine.org to be entered into an EGGCITING drawing for a basket full of goodies.

Bunny Breakfast

Saturday, March 23

8:00-9:30am

Register

$10 per family; Buy your ticket

Join us on Saturday, March 23 in the Wentworth Cafeteria for a yummy breakfast with our favorite special guest...the Easter Bunny! The menu includes pancakes, sausage, hash browns, and fruit, along with all of the fixings. Don’t forget to bring your camera for a photo op with the Bunny!

The Plover Program is a pre-K classroom session offered at the Community Services Hub. Registration for the 2024-25 school year begins Monday, March 4 at 8:00am. Enrollment is limited to the first 15 students, after which we will take a waitlist. The Plover program is open to children ages 3.5 to 5 who will be entering kindergarten the following school year or the next year.

Online Registration (Opens March 4)

Please be sure to set up a household ahead of time with all pertinent information, such as accurate date of birth, hospital preference, allergies and medications, etc. You may call us at (207) 730-4150 prior to registering and we would be happy to assist you with the household creation.

Visit our Plover Program webpage for full program details, including parent handbook, fees, and schedule.

Saturday, March 2, 9:00am-3:00pm

Community Services Hub

418 Payne Road, Scarborough

Join us for our Spring Passport Day! Passport applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, and we recommend that applicants come prepared with the it already completed. Can't make it? Passports applications are also accepted in the Community Services office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (by appointment only). We understand that many people cannot make these specific times work, especially when trying to juggle work and family life, so each fall and spring we offer a special Saturday Passport Day event in Scarborough.

For more information on what is required to apply for a passport, please call the Scarborough Community Services Office at 207-730-4150, or you may visit the only official website for passports at Travel.State.Gov.

In honor of this upcoming special event, Community Services answered some frequently asked questions and misconceptions about passports and Maine Real IDs.

Now Hiring Full Time Finance Clerk

The Town of Scarborough is seeking a Finance Clerk to join the Finance Department Revenue Office. Duties involve friendly customer service to residents and visitors in the office and when answering phones. Responsibilities include processing various property taxes, registering vehicles, including automobiles, trailers, snowmobiles, ATVs, boats and issuing boat launch and beach permits. Applications must be received by Sunday, March 17.

Maine Water Open House on March 6

Maine Water is having its first public open house at Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center, a new facility that brings fresh drinking water to Scarborough citizens in Pine Point.

The open house is Wednesday, March 6th from 10:00am to 3:00pm at 16 Water Works Drive, on the southwest side of South Street (about a mile west past the South Street bridge over the Maine Turnpike, across the street from the old plant.) The event is free. Registration is not required, but guests 18 years old and over must bring a government-issued photo ID. Also required for safety reasons are flat, closed-toe shoes.

A long-term infrastructure investment, the new Resource Center replaced a facility that was 138 years old, built when Chester A. Arthur was President of the United States. The old building also sat exposed in the flood plain of the Saco River, and flooded at least three times. The new one is safely out of the flood plain. Thanks largely to completing this complex 10-year project, Maine Water Company was recently named “Utility of the Year” by the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA.)

Board of Education Announces Spotlight Winners

The Scarborough Board of Education has a program called the Spotlight Award which recognizes a staff member within the schools for the incredible work they do within the district. This program was started several years ago and has become a favorite tradition at board meetings. Scarborough School staff are able to nominate other staff members for this award through a form provided by the school board. Each month, the board selects a winner from the list of nominations, and presents the winner with an award at a school board meeting. The board believes that the wider community may also be interested in hearing about the amazing staff in our schools and will begin submitting a monthly write up to the Scarborough Leader, along with town and school newsletters.

In February the Board of Education presented two Spotlight Award Winners of the school district, one for January and one for February. January’s Spotlight Award winner was presented at the February 1st board meeting.

The winner was a STEM teacher, Ms. Alison Avery. Ms. Avery was nominated for her leadership and exceptional work. Ms. Avery was nominated by Kerry Kertes for excellence in educational practices. As part of her recognition, there was a video presentation made by 18 of her students as well as some of her colleagues. Ms. Avery has done some really exciting things as a teacher and it is clear that she is inspiring to those around her. One exciting thing that she has brought to her classroom curriculum is “Genius Hour” which is aimed at helping kids stay focused and engaged with various topics. In addition to teaching, Ms. Avery has led two high school Robotics Teams through championship wins which means the team will take a trip to the World Games in Dallas later this year! 

February’s Spotlight Award winner was Mr. Matt Coleman. Mr. Coleman was nominated for being an exceptional teacher who makes connections with all his students and takes time to listen to own peers. He was nominated by Ms. Brandi Knapp who helped create a heart warming presentation with a video at the February 15th board meeting. Mr. Coleman is a teacher at Wentworth and is described as going above and beyond for his students, and his love of teaching comes out in everything that he does. Ms. Knapp said she nominated Mr. Coleman “because he is an exceptional teacher who goes above and beyond here at our school at Wentworth. He has all types of students with different needs and goes out of his way to make sure he makes a connection with all students. He has a student who is on his roster but is in a different program here and not regularly in his class. From day one he has gone out of his way to take the time to connect with this student. He comes down frequently to his student’s classroom and checks in with him.” It was also noted that Mr. Coleman uses his lunch break to play games with student groups. 

Every month, it is abundantly clear that Scarborough has some of the best staff around! For more information and to view the presentations, please see the School YouTube channel or the School website (click on the video presentations under the respective meetings).

Scarborough Town Council

Nick McGee, Chair • April Sither, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • Don Cushing • Don Hamill • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

Scarborough Public Library: Upcoming Programs

Anyuka Film Q&A

With Artist Maya Erdelyi

Friday, March 1, 6:00-7:00pm

Register

Anyuka is the story of a marvelous and tragic life as told through three generations. Interweaving super 8 family films, archival material and experimental animation, a granddaughter takes a deep dive into the remarkable life of her indomitable grandmother—a writer, WWII refugee and Holocaust survivor. Anyuka (Hungarian for mother) explores: intergenerational trauma, the Jewish diaspora, immigration, motherhood, and religious identity—to tell the story of a tragic and marvelous life across three continents.

Crime Writers Panel: How We Make the Sausage

Tuesday, March 5, 11:00am-12:00pm

Register

Three crime fiction writers, who publish very different types of mysteries, discuss how they create their characters, as well as revealing the inside information on how they build the complicated worlds where their stories take place. Lively discussion is planned—with lots of opinions!—and extended Q&A along with it. Featured writers are: Joseph Souza, Brenda Buchanan, and Richard Cass.

Español for Kids with Yaya

Monday, March 4, 10:45-11:30am

Learn More

Kids ages 1 - 5 are invited to discover the magic of Spanish with Yaya from Learning with Yaya-Spanish for Kids! Join us for a playful journey into the world of Spanish that will include games, books, music and dancing! 

Jerry Farnham, Maine Author of "Red at Night"

Friday, March 8, 12:00pm

Learn More

Jerry Farnham talks about his new book, Red at Night, growing up on a lobsterboat, and his experiences being a blue collar author. Jerry Farnham grew up in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He started his life on the water at age 6 going sternman with his father. After graduating from Boothbay Region High School he made the decision to serve his country in the US Navy.

Author Talk: Monty Orrick

Monday, March 11, 12:30pm

Learn More

Join local photojournalist Monty Orrick as he discusses his new book, The Crater Lake Murders: The story of the 1952 murders of two General Motors executives and the search for a killer hiding in plain sight. Monty Orrick did the majority of the research and writing of this book right here at Scarborough Public Library! He is an award-winning shooter, field producer/manager and writer with over twenty years of experience in TV news.

Monday – 9am to 5pm • Tuesday – 9am to 7pm • Wednesday – 9am to 7pm • Thursday – 9am to 7pm • Friday – 9am to 5pm • Saturday – 9am to 5pm • Sunday – Closed