Spring is right around the corner, which at the Town brings with it budget season (April to June) and an anticipation for summer programs, seasonal hiring, and more. There are some upcoming deadlines for property tax payments and tax assistance programs for those who are eligible, so be sure to add these to your Spring "to-do" list. Read on to learn more, and find out about other program and event dates coming up.

The Town of Scarborough is currently accepting applications for some employment opportunities, both full-time year-round positions as well as some seasonal work with Community Services (parks maintenance, summer camp). Take a look at our career page for all jobs.

On February 19, Project GRACE and the Town of Scarborough held the 10th annual “Rally to Keep Our Neighbors Warm” fundraiser at the Public Safety building to raise a goal of $25,000 for fuel assistance. Banks and credit unions, churches, clubs and service organizations, Town employees and Town Councilors, local businesses, and hundreds of families from all over town took part. Rally-goers cheerfully donated more than $10,000 that day, and by noon on Saturday, together we had raised more than $26,000 dollars for fuel assistance! That covers about sixty ‘helps’ of 100 gallons of oil, k1, propane, or firewood.

The Fuel Rally brings in about two-thirds of the money Project GRACE spends on fuel assistance. If you missed the rally and wish to give to the fuel fund, visit the Rally website to donate online, or send a check to Project GRACE, PO Box 6846, Scarborough, ME 04070-6846. 100% of fuel fund donations go to fuel assistance; Project GRACE covers operating costs with other gifts and grants. To everyone who rallied with us and gave to the fuel fund, the Town and Project GRACE extend their warmest and most heartfelt thanks.

Project GRACE is a Scarborough nonprofit with a mission of improving the lives of neighbors by identifying both those in need and those willing to share their gifts, and coordinating the interchange in a compassionate, confidential manner.

The second half of your property tax bill is due on March 15. Payments can be made in-person at Town Hall or online. If you have a billing or payment question, please contact our Tax Collections department at (207) 730-4010. (How was the tax rate determined? Click Here to learn more).

The Assessing Department is responsible for the annual valuation of all property in the Town of Scarborough. They also oversee property tax relief programs and exemptions for eligible individuals and properties. Below is an overview of some tax assistance programs you may be eligible for and some application deadline reminders. 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 or [email protected] if you have any questions.

If your annual property tax burden exceeds 5% of household Adjusted Gross Income, then you may be eligible for a rebate of up to $750 at the end of the year. For residents who rent, we consider your rent as part of your tax burden. The deadline to apply is October 17, 2022.

• Applicant is age 62 or older as of the application deadline

• Applicant has been a Town resident for at least 10 years as of October 17, 2022

• Applicant’s household Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is not more than $50,000

• Identification and proof of income

• Either your 2021 Tax Return or your 2021 year-end Social Security Benefit Statement if you don’t file taxes.

• If you rent, a statement of rent paid between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

There are several Exemptions for residents to reduce their annual tax bill. Applications for these Exemptions must be submitted to the Assessing office by April 1, 2022.

Homestead Exemption, for residents who have owned their primary residence in Maine for 12 months with no break in ownership.

Veteran’s Exemption, for Veterans or the surviving spouse, minor child, or widowed parent of a Veteran. The Veteran must either be age 62 or older, or receive 100% disability from the VA, or paraplegic. By State guidelines, only Veterans who served during a recognized war period are eligible for this Exemption.

Blind Persons Exemption, for residents who are legally blind.

*NEW* Renewable Energy Equipment Exemption. Beginning April 1, 2022, Town of Scarborough will begin taxing solar panel equipment. This equipment can be exempt through the State of Maine Renewable Energy Exemption application. Applications submitted after April 1, 2022 will not go into effect until the following year.

In 2021, the Maine legislature reinstated the property tax deferral program to help seniors and the fully disabled stay in their homes and age in place. For qualified and approved applicants, the State of Maine will pay the property taxes each year. The state will place a lien on the property and all deferred taxes (and accrued interest) are repaid to the state when the property is sold or the applicant passes away.

This is a State-managed program. Questions can be referred to Maine Revenue Services, Property Tax Division, at (207) 624-5600 or [email protected]. Kevin Boyle is the current contact person for the program and can be reached directly at [email protected] or (207) 592-3816.

The Town held a virtual community meeting last week to discuss Scarborough’s climate change and resiliency priorities. Staff shared an overview of vulnerable infrastructure, followed by time for participants to suggest additional priorities. Information gathered during the meeting will be used to inform future funding proposals and Town initiatives. Click Here to watch a recording of the meeting on YouTube.

The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) Urban Runoff 5K is happening next month! Scarborough is one of 14 towns in Cumberland County who collaborate on stormwater education and outreach with CCSWCD. We're forming "Team Scarborough" to represent our community in the upcoming Urban Runoff road race on April 23. When you register, be sure to select "Scarborough" in the Join a Team dropdown to help us earn the title of Largest Municipal Team!

During the month of March, every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger bag sold at the Scarborough Hannaford will earn the Scarborough Community Services Senior (55+) Programs a $1 donation! This money will be used to help pay for drop-in center snacks and entertainment at our weekly lunches. It's a win-win-win...save the environment, avoid paying for paper bags, and help us keep our local seniors engaged with their peers!

Coffee with a Cop: Friday, March 4, 9:30am at the Hub, Free (no registration required)

Senior Craft Day: Monday, March 14, 10:00am at the Hub

Brick Store Museum Trip: Thursday, March 24, 9:45am-2:30pm

Prices vary; Find details and registration links online. View the digital brochure or pick up a paper copy at the Community Services Hub (418 Payne Road) or Scarborough Public Library.

All youth and adult program details can be found in the Winter/Spring Brochure.

Did you know that the Red Cross is facing the worst blood shortage in over a decade? The dangerously low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants. To lend a hand, Scarborough Community Services is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, March 10. Register online for a time slot.

Our Planning & Codes Department gets a range of questions everyday— anything from parcel information, to building code issues, zoning ordinance interpretations, old building or site plans, land uses, floodplain development, subdivision, and neighbor complaint-related issues. Lots of times we can answer the question on the spot, but other times it can require some research. In either case, we always seek to provide excellent customer service and obtain what information we can. Here are some helpful tips to assist in the process of getting answers to your questions:

• First, check out our website. View all Town ordinances, and see the Planning & Code Enforcement page for all permit forms.

• We also have a Frequently Asked Questions page where you may quickly find the answer to your question.

• Check out the WebGIS page. Don't worry if you haven't used this before...there is an online help system to guide you through the basics, and a wealth of information you can access.

Last year we paid $3.3 million in County tax based on assessed value. The State uses the town valuation amount in the Revenue Sharing calculation. Valuation is also a factor in determining school assistance monies, and with each increase in the town valuation these funds become less. For every dollar of new value not sheltered, 58 cents is lost in reduced revenue sharing and increased cost for county taxes. A TIF allows all new value added to the original assessed value in a defined area of town (district) to be sheltered from the above taxing authorities, saving the town additional county tax and lessening the risk of reduction in revenue sharing and General-Purpose Aid for Education.

An action is before the council in early March to approve sheltering 100% of added assessed value in the Downtown TIF District established in 2018. This District consists of 955+ acres that includes the Municipal campus with the Town Hall, Schools, Public Library and the park, Oak Hill area with its small shops, restaurants, coffee shops, churches, banks, offices and the Post Office, 50 acres along Route 1 in a business district that includes churches, medium sized offices and services as well as 424 acres of The Downs property (a single parcel).

Taking this action will keep all new value added since 2018 in this District from being used in the taxing authorities’ calculations. With the Downs business district sold out and the addition of IDEXX and Costco along with the new housing development in the coming years, the Town's value will increase by more than $300 million by 2028. Sheltering this new value will save large amounts of County tax dollars alone and limit the impact to those other state and education revenue sharing items. If the council action is approved, the change in capture/shelter percentage will be reviewed by the State of Maine for approval.

Information on this ‘Tax Shift’ and other benefits of using a (TIF) “Tax Increment Financing” can be found on the Town website. Find information on the current Scarborough TIF Districts including location maps and the list of projects that can be funded by TIF revenues.

We're excited to announce a new feature we’re calling “Councilor Corner Live”. This virtual discussion will be hosted by two councilors and centers around a specific topic. Our first Councilor Corner Live will be held on Thursday, March 31 at 5:00pm to discuss TIFs & Managing Town Growth. Community engagement is a critical component of navigating Town issues, and we value your input. Please join us to ask questions, share feedback, and hear from your councilors. Program details and links to participate will be made available in our next newsletter and on our website prior to the program.

Want to share your thoughts? Councilors can be contacted via email at [email protected].

John Cloutier, Chair • Ken Johnson, Vice Chair • Jonathan Anderson • Jean-Marie Caterina • Don Hamill • Paul Johnson • April Sither

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

The Scarborough Public Library is pleased to welcome back most Library Groups for in-person meetings beginning in March (masks required).

• Morning Book Discussion Group, Evening Book Discussion Group, and Books on Tap will offer in-person meetings with an option to Zoom in for those who prefer to participate virtually.

• Library Knitting Group will meet in person (virtual participation option) each Saturday in March, 10am to noon.

• Library Sketching Group will meet in person on Fridays March 11 and April 8, 2-4pm

• Let’s Talk America, the Library’s civil discourse forum, will meet virtually on March 3 at 6:30pm and will meet in person in the future.

View the full events calendar on the Library website.

It is possible to make an appointment for assistance from AARP's trained volunteer tax-aides. Sessions at the Library have begun and will end in mid-April. Call (207) 518-8579 to schedule an appointment.

Have you been meaning to explore all the library's electronic resources, such as ebooks, online videos and digital magazines, but are not sure where to start? Or do you know someone who would be interested in learning how to access SPL resources on a tablet? We're piloting a new library service where patrons can borrow a tablet that comes pre-configured just for them. Patrons will walk out the library doors with access to thousands of ebooks, videos, and digital magazines all at the press of a finger. No experience necessary. To register for the trial, call Tom Corbett, Systems Librarian, at (207) 396-6271.

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

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