It's a time of transition as we reacquaint with back-to-school routines, off-season beach rules, and gear up for the November election. The Town Council will prepare for the transition of two new councilors after the election. Early voting begins on October 6, so read on below to see what's on the ballot. There are also several upcoming events, including Sustainable Scarborough Day, seasonal craft programs with Community Services, and library programs. Thanks for being an engaged participant of the Town of Scarborough.

Summer Photo Contest Winners Announced!

This was a very well documented summer for Scarborough! We received over 150 submissions to our "Summer Outdoors" photo contest in categories ranging from beaches to wildlife. We're excited to announce the winners, chosen by your vote!

Winners will be notified directly and will receive a gift card prize from one of several Scarborough businesses: Cafe Luna, The Dairy Corner, El Rayo, and Dunstan Tap & Table.

Nature & Wildlife Category Winner: "Watering Hole" by Linda Karwacki

"Our resident raccoon 'Rocky' was very thirsty!"

Parks & Paths Category Winner: "Boat Reflection" by Amy Taylor

"This boat is at the edge of the river in the marsh, off the Eastern Trail."

Pets, Family & Fun Category Winner: "Gone But Not Forgotten" by Cameron Dolan

Scenic Landscapes Category Winner: "Sunset at Ferry Beach" by Dory Sangiovanni

Beaches Category Winner: "Beauty of Scarborough" by Dawn Freedman

2025-26 Tax Rate Set, Tax Bills Mailed

The 2025-2026 property tax rate has been set by the Town Assessor, committed in August 2025. The Town of Scarborough’s new tax rate is now set at $11.33 per $1,000 of property value for the 2026 fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The new rate applies to the taxes due on October 15, 2025 and March 16, 2026. Fall tax bills were mailed on September 1.

Pay your property taxes online, by mail, or by coming into our Revenue Office (main floor to the right of the entrance) during business hours.

Tax Commitment Report

Each year, the Town of Scarborough Assessing department produces a Tax Commitment Report which includes:

• Final Approved Budget and Tax Rate Computation

• Assessment Statistics (i.e. Tax-Base Breakdown, Assessed to Sales Price Ratios)

• State and County forms (i.e. Municipal Valuation Return)

• TIF/CEA Totals: Annual and Historical Summary

Visit the Assessing page for additional information, including the FY26 Tax Commitment Report and 2025-26 Assessor's Report to Town Council.

Road Project Updates Around Town

Mussey/Payne Road Intersection

Road work will be conducted to prepare the intersection of Mussey/Payne Road before traffic signals can be installed. Construction is expected to cause traffic delays.

Gorham/Payne Road Intersection

A median will be installed on Gorham Road at Payne Road near Hannaford to address traffic safety issues. The work is expected to cause traffic delays.

Mitchell Hill Road Detour

Mitchell Hill Road will be closed at the Gorham/Scarborough town line for up to 45 days (until mid-October). Detour in place. This is a MDOT project.

Pleasant Hill Road Weekend Closure

The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing the asphalt wearing surface and underlaying 30 year-old waterproofing membrane on the Pleasant Avenue Crossing Bridge. During construction, Pleasant Hill Road will be closed to traffic for two separate weekends from 6:00pm Friday until 6:00am Monday. The weekend closures will be on September 19-22 and September 26-29. The dates are subject to change to a later weekend due to weather—please look out for signage when in the area.

Holmes Road

Road work will be conducted to add a left turn lane into the site of the former Beech Ridge Speedway, now FedEx facility. Following this, work will be conducted at the intersection of Payne Road and Holmes Road to extend the left turn on Payne Road and extend the lanes on Holmes Road to allow for trucks turning. This work will be done at night and take around two weeks.

November Election: Meet the Candidates

The following candidates will be on the ballot this November to fill the open seats:

Town Council 2 seats, 3-Year term to expire 2028

Michelle T. Hayes

Karin B. Shupe (Incumbent)

School Board 1 seat to fill a vacancy, term to expire in June 2027

Crescencia Maurer

Sanitary District Trustees 2 seats, 3-Year term to expire 2028

Anthony J. D’Amelio

Write-In

Candidates Night is October 7

Save the date for Candidates Night for the November Election, which will be held on Tuesday, October 7 at 6:15pm for the Sanitary District, Board of Education, and Town Council. Moderator Kevin Freeman will introduce candidates and have them give opening statements and answer a series of questions. It will be in Council Chambers at Town Hall and recorded.

Honoring National Police Woman Day

Top: Sergeant Mary Pearson (Retired), Deputy Chief Marla St. Pierre (Retired); Middle: Officer Melissa Diclemente, Detective Holly Thompson, Officer Sarah Fasulo, Officer Alyvia Cormier, Officer Robyn Stankevitz; Bottom: Officer Taylor Owen, Officer Samantha Snow, Officer Lauren Bartlett, Digital Systems Technician Kristie McLaughlin

Thursday, September 12 was National Police Woman Day, set to recognize the contribution of female police officers. Only about 10% of the police force in the United States is made up of women. Scarborough Police Department extended the recognition to a full week to honor our nine female police staff (and two retired). 

See the full brochure for all programs and instructions for registering

Sign up for the Community Services newsletter to receive updates on local programs, events, ticket sales, trips, and resources designed to support and enrich our vibrant community.

Ask & Answer: Where do I go for passport services?

Did you know that Scarborough Community Services can help you submit your passport application? We take appointments at the Community Services Hub (418 Payne Road) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am - 11:30am and on Wednesdays from 9:00am - 5:30pm. 

If an appointment during the work and school day isn’t convenient for you, we are offering a drop-in Passport Day on Wednesday, November 26th from 9:00am - 2:00pm (day before Thanksgiving). We will have several agents and stations ready to accept passports on a first come, first serve basis. Stop in to prepare for your next trip, or simply to ask questions and learn more about the process!

Passports are currently taking around 4-6 weeks to process, but there is an option to pay an additional $60 for expedited service which will shorten the processing time to 2-3 weeks. These estimations do not include mailing time, so please be sure to factor additional time for that. While we send everything Priority, you will also have the option to update your mailing to Priority Express. All of these additional services and their associated fees can be discussed during your appointment.

For more information on what is required to apply for a passport or to set up an appointment, 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.

Mark Your Calendars! Passport Day

Wednesday, November 26, 9:00am - 2:00pm

Community Services Hub

418 Payne Road, Scarborough 

September 24 Public Meeting: Spurwink Marsh Restoration & Sawyer Street Removal

The Town will hold a public meeting on the Spurwink Marsh Restoration and Sawyer Street

Removal Project on Wednesday, September 24 at 6:00pm, at Town Hall and on Zoom. Sawyer Street is a town road that crosses Spurwink Marsh and is shared with Cape Elizabeth. This road frequently floods during astronomical high tides and storm events and is listed as a priority road in the Town's Vulnerability Assessment.

The Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program (MNRCP) awarded a $1,590,000 grant to the Towns of Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough in the Fall of 2023 to remove the road from the marsh in an environmentally sound manner. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the project and ask questions. Watch the video below for some background.

The Town Council will also hold a public hearing and official vote to discontinue a portion of

Sawyer Street. The dates of the hearing and vote have not been set yet.

For questions about the meeting or project, please reach out to Jami Fitch, Sustainability

Manager, at jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org.

Working Toward "Tree City" with Tree Care Ordinance

The Town Council held a Tree City USA workshop on September 3 to learn more about what it would take to qualify as a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation. A draft Tree Care ordinance is tentatively planned for the October Ordinance meeting to begin the review and discussion. This work supports the Town Council's sustainability goal to "develop and implement environmental protection and climate change initiatives that protect our environment and enhance our resiliency". 

Apply by October: Senior Property Tax Assistance

The Senior Property Tax Assistance Program applications are due by October 15th. The program is one of multiple forms of tax relief that Town of Scarborough has for residents looking for assistance with their property taxes. If your annual property tax burden exceeds 5% of household Adjusted Gross Income, you may be eligible for a return of up to $1,000 at the end of the year. For residents who rent, including owners of properties within a Manufactured Home Park, rent paid is considered part of your property tax burden.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicant is age 62 or older as of the application deadline

2. Applicant has been a Scarborough resident for at least 10 consecutive years as of October 15, 2025

3. Federal Adjusted Gross Income (household) does not exceed $60,000

Applications for the Property Tax Assistance Program are available online or in the Assessing Office. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2025.

When you submit your application, we will need to see identification and proof of income, either in the form of your 2024 Tax Return or your 2024 Year-End Social Security Benefit Statement, if you don’t file taxes. If you rent, we will also need a statement of rent paid between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Please contact the Assessing office at (207) 730-4060 or visit our office on the lower level of Town Hall if you have any questions.

School Project on the November Ballot

The school project referendum question will ask if voters approve a total cost of up to $129.85 million for K-8 school renovations. A second referendum question asks for a further addition to the Middle School to accommodate increased enrollment expected in 2024, with a total project cost of up to $10M (contingent on the first question passing).

Major Challenges Facing Our Schools

Our K-2 primary schools and middle school are operating over capacity, and temporary modular classrooms have been in daily use for over 20 years. Based on children who have already been born in Scarborough, an increase of almost 200 students are expected to enter the primary schools by 2028-2029.

Pictured: The entire 6th grade must travel between portables and the main building multiple times per day at the Middle School

Spaces shared by multiple programs (such as gym/cafeteria, art/music, etc.) can inhibit programming due to time spent transitioning between uses or difficulty accommodating certain equipment or materials. Increasing enrollment will continue to exacerbate space needs.

Pictured: Shared gym/cafeteria at Blue Point

The three K-2 primary schools were built in the 1950s and 60s. The outdated infrastructure does not adequately support modern teaching and learning, including special education, intervention, and state-mandated curriculum.

Pictured: Eight Corners special education and student support programs must share space. These programs should typically be located in smaller dedicated spaces to support individualized learning

Safety & security needs are different today than when our schools were originally constructed. Improvements are needed to ensure all schools have sufficient emergency site access, secure entry vestibules, lockdown zones, and other infrastructure.

Pictured: Pleasant Hill entry lacks a secure vestibule

November Election: Request an Absentee Ballot

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. If you plan to vote prior to election day or want to avoid the lines, it's time to request an absentee ballot.

Request an absentee ballot online. Absentee ballots will be mailed when they are available in early October.

For further information on Absentee Voting and Voter Registration, please contact the Scarborough Town Clerk's Office at 730-4020.

Community Survey Launches In a Few Weeks

The Town of Scarborough is launching a town-wide community survey later this month to seek feedback from residents. The statistically valid survey covers questions regarding satisfaction with town services and the direction the community is headed. The timeline is consistent with the two-year cadence that the Town has sought out to seek feedback from residents since the 2021 survey was launched. The Town uses this information to set council goals and inform projects/initiatives. Stay tuned for details!

October 5: Sustainable Scarborough Day

The Town of Scarborough is hosting its 3rd annual Sustainable Scarborough Day on Sunday, October 5, bringing together everyone from the environmentally conscious to the eco-curious for a day of learning and fun. The event will be held from 10:00am-2:00pm at Wentworth School, 20 Quentin Drive on the municipal/school campus. This is a family friendly event with activities for all ages! 

What to Expect

• Meet with experts, local businesses, nonprofits, and enthusiasts on topics ranging from sustainable living, efficient homes, transportation, landscapes, recreation, waste management, land conservation, and climate action.

• Test drive an electric vehicle. Sustainable Scarborough Day will be Southern Maine’s largest National Drive Electric Week event!

• Enjoy live music from the Maine Marimba Ensemble and tasty treats from local food trucks.

Who Will Be There?

Several vendors are participating on-site for Sustainable Scarborough Day, ranging from farms, to nonprofits, advocacy groups, solar companies and more.

• Scarborough’s own MePowered Pastries will offer recipes and activities to reduce food waste.

• The US Fish and Wildlife Service will offer fun and engaging activities about pollinators, including Pollinator Plinko trivia game and pollinator dress-up. 

• Scarborough volunteer nonprofit Project GRACE will be doing demos of simple DIYs to snug up drafty homes.

• Scarborough Garden Club and Maine Audubon will offer a native plant sale and giveaway. Did you know fall is a great time to plant?

We look forward to another great event and hope to see you there!

Scarborough Public Library is also offering sustainability programs for the week leading up to Sustainable Scarborough Day! Find their full list here

Check out the Scarborough Schools Events Calendar for key happenings across our district, including sports competitions, club activities, school events, and more. This is your go-to resource for staying informed and involved in the vibrant life of our schools!

High School Track Project is Nearly Complete

The track renovation project at the High School sports complex is almost finished, just in time for the official start of the Fall athletic season. All of the major components of the project are complete except for the final track surfacing, which is currently planned for Spring of 2026. Final work is being completed on the electrical conduit and wiring to the track buildings and scoreboard, which are currently without power, as well as restoration of the disturbed areas outside the perimeter fence including the irrigation system.

This has been a huge undertaking requiring coordination of multiple parties - special thanks are due to Todd Jepson, Mike LeGage and Jordan Ferreira from the School Department, Casey Cunningham and Scott Turcotte from Community Services, Donnie Mitchell of Mitchell’s Electric and Andrew Godfrey of Woodard & Curran.

We appreciate the patience of the Scarborough community while the construction area has been off-limits this summer, but know that the newly renovated facility will be a great resource for years to come.

September 24: Reimagining Route 1 Public Meeting

Wednesday, September 24, 6:00-8:00pm

Saco Public Works, 15 Phillips Spring Road, Saco

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), in partnership with the Cities of Saco, Biddeford, and Scarborough, invite you to a community meeting to help reimagine the future of Route 1. GPCOG will share results from Phase 1 of this project’s public engagement period, present a new Vision Statement and Needs Assessment, and debut a comprehensive list of potential projects for the corridor. Residents will have the opportunity to review ideas (which could include traffic calming, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, transit improvements, and intersection changes), provide feedback, and suggest new projects. Your input will help prioritize improvements and guide next steps for Route 1 in Saco and the surrounding region. Bring your ideas and imagination! And come hungry - pizza will be provided.

Council Corner: Q&A with Councilor Scott Doherty

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.

What are some community issues that are top of mind for you right now?

Multi-family developments. The Town has made it their agenda to add them, but people are saying No, we don’t want that. Get focused on what the people want. For example, Cape Elizabeth doesn’t have the same development we have; there isn’t a lot of land to be developed. When new potential developments come up, taxpayers squash it.

There are other ways to address affordable housing. They say these multi-family developments are a solution for affordable housing, but they’re not—they’re expensive. The power should be put in the hands of the townspeople. People should be allowed to do more Accessory Dwelling Units, like being able to convert their garage. We need to encourage that kind of development because it spreads it out into the community and doesn’t congest one area.

Do you think this would affect more rural areas of town?

North Scarborough has always had bigger lot sizes, and I get that. But maybe there is one neighborhood with smaller, more affordable homes. First time home buyers could afford them, they could build ADUs and stay there. That’s the way to go and that makes sense to me, but we have to put it before the people too.

That was something you campaigned on when running for the Council, letting voters decide instead of the Council.

I think all these big decisions should go to referendum. The Council is trying to vote on what’s best for the town, but we need input from the community as to what they want. A lot of what we vote on comes from Town committees, small interest groups that don’t necessarily reflect the whole community. I’ve been told it would be too much to have a long list of questions on a ballot, but you don’t have to answer them all. Only answer the ones you’re interested in. I have a friend who was so mad about a Council decision, he said “I’m not voting anymore”. We can’t have that; we really need people to be part of the process.

One big project on the November referendum ballot is the $130 million school project. 

Yes, that’s one that when we voted as a Council whether it should be on the ballot, I wanted to be against it. I think it’s too expensive. But like I said, it’s for the voters to decide, so I voted for it to go to referendum. I think we could’ve made it less expensive though. Why do we need a big new building for Eight Corners School when we can renovate the one that’s there? Those old buildings were built to last, it’s possible. They say it’s $5 million more to build a new one versus renovating the existing one...looking big picture that might not seem like a lot, but it’s still $5 million. We’ll have to see what the voters decide.

The Dunstan TIF was also a significant topic of conversation over the last few Council meetings.

People made it very clear that they don’t want TIFs at all; the State should abolish it. The State makes all these mandates for the Town and then wants to give them a break in the form of TIFs. Scarborough residents looked into it and found that it was a benefit to the developer. The Town gets a tax break, but so does the developer. People are saying no incentives to developers. If they can make it happen on their own without incentives, then fine.

One woman who spoke during public comment at the meeting was very clever and asked everyone in the room to raise your hand if you’re opposed to the TIF. You never know, because not everyone who comes likes to get up and speak. But the majority of the room raised their hands and it was clear. I voted against it. 

How do you approach making decisions as a Councilor?

If you do what you think is right and tell them the truth then it’s pretty easy. For me it’s living in town my whole life and hearing what people are saying. And going with the majority in the room, like the old days of a town hall. If 6 people show up to the meeting, 5 are for something and 1 is against, they should go with that majority. Those are the people who showe

I also think we don’t need to keep adding more issues. My whole goal on the Council is “Don’t try to fix it”. All these rules and regulations sound good, but when you go to implement it, it doesn’t work. Boards and committees don’t need to try to just make stuff up that they think we should be doing. It sounds good, but it doesn’t work.

What is it like being on the council when you have different opinions?

I’m very open to the other councilors. Everyone on there is doing something they think is right for the town. I can’t be mad at them for that. The Marshview development project got voted down and I was shocked; I thought they would vote for it but they didn’t. They voted for the people even if they felt otherwise. They’re trying to vote for what’s best for the town but need to get input from the community as to what they want.

Scarborough Town Council

April Sither (Chair) • Jonathan Anderson (Vice Chair) • Larry Cain • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Cory Fellows • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month (third Wednesday only in July and August). Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

Summer Learning at Scarborough Public Library

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Sign up for a library card in September to enter a weekly raffle for a cute library t-shirt! Already use & love your library? Refer a friend, family member or neighbor and enter to win a Saturday matinee on the big screen with up to 30 of your friends & family! You choose the movie! Referral cards available at the Circulation Desk.

Make Your Own Mystery Story

Thursday, September 18, 6:30-8:00pm

Register

Join three of the best minds in Crime Fiction—Richard Cass, Jule Selbo, and Julia Spencer-Fleming—to create a mystery of our very own! We'll develop the who what why where how and throw in a few red herrings just for fun. 

Mindful Parenting in Turbulent Times

Tuesday, September 23, 5:30-7:00pm

Register (Spots limited)

Parents and caregivers with children birth to 18 years old, join Mindfulness Teacher Heidi Whelan for an experiential mindful parenting workshop. Explore mindfulness practices that help support parent and child well-being and strengthen family bonds. Information will be presented on how the brain reacts to stress and how mindfulness creates the space needed to respond rather than react to stressors. Group discussion time is built into the program so that we can all share and learn from our experience with the practices.

"Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization"

Tuesday, September 16, 6:00-7:00pm

Register

Rope is a unique and compelling adventure through the history of rope and its impact on civilization, in the vein of single-subject bestsellers like Salt and Cod, by Maine author Tim Queeney.

Board Game Night for All Ages

Friday, September 19, 5:00-7:30pm

No registration required

Bring the whole family, a couple of friends, or come on your own for this intergenerational party! Either way, plan to play games with anyone. This is a great way to have some fun and maybe make a new friend. Pizza included! (You can also bring your own dinner if pizza doesn't work for you.)