FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 138
BERLIN, N.H.
752-5858
FREE
Tax cut for Berlin in jeopardy Tax rates set BY BARBARA TETREAULT
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THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN -- The 25 cent tax decrease the city council projected when it passed the fiscal 2012 budget in June is in jeopardy. With the city set to meet with the state Department of Revenue Administration in the next week or so, City Manager Patrick MacQueen updated the council Monday night on the latest figures.
The council in June projected a tax rate of $31.45, 25 cents less than the current rate of $31.70. But MacQueen said the city’s overall valuation has decreased by $10 million - $3.3 million in utility values and the remaining $6.7 million came from a drop in residential properties. That added 64 cents to the tax rate. The city’s share of the county tax came see TAX page 8
City to purchase land back from Clean Power BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN -- The city will repurchase the 11.5 acres of land it sold to Clean Power Development in the fall of 2009. Clean Power hoped to construct a 29-megawatt biomass
plant on the property, which is near the city’s wastewater treatment plant, but has since abandoned the project. City Manager Patrick MacQueen said when the city sold the land to Clean Power, see CITY page 10
Letter asks Ayotte to reconsider stand on prison bill ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY -- Twentytwo local officials have signed a letter to U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, asking her to reconsider her recent vote against an appro-
priations bill that includes funding for the federal prison in Berlin. The signers include Berlin Mayor Paul see LETTER page 6
for local towns BY MELISSA GRIMA THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
CONCORD — Tax rates are a mixed bag of increases across the smaller towns in the Androscoggin Valley this year. While Shelburne and Randolph saw changes of around 30 cents in their tax rate over 2010, Dummer’s rate increased $1.51 and Milan saw a jump of an even $2. All four towns are organized under SAU 20, and education costs comprised the bulk of the changes in Milan and Dummer while Shelburne’s lesser increase stemmed primarily from the county tax and Randolph’s town rate and state education contribution added to their taxes. With spikes in the local school and county portions of the 2011 rate Milan’s overall rate of $15.59 per thousand dollars of assessed value in 2010, is up to $17.59. The county rate is up 56 cents to $4.04, while the local school rate is up $1.96 to $8.65. The town piece of the rate fell 38 cents to see RATES page 7
Veterans Day observance schedule
U.S. Cellular has moved to a new location. But, they haven’t moved very far, they moved next door. U.S. Cellular hosted a ‘Business After Hours’ to celebrate their grand opening on Thursday night. They are still located at the Berlin IGA Plaza, 13-A Pleasant Street in their beautifully remodeled facility. Androscoggin Valley Chamber members participated in the ribbon cutting. From (l-r) U.S. Cellular staff, Dawn Laflamme, consultant, Jim Provencher, store manager, Darlene Vaillancourt, sales manager, Cindy Patterson, general manager, Shelley Rich, consultant and Norma Corry, agent accountant director. Back row: Andoscoggin Valley Chamber members and friends. (RITA DUBE PHOTO)
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Memorials to be visited by the White Mountains Veteran’s Council. 1.Milan Church Time: 8:45 a.m. 2.Dummer Town Hall Time: 9:10 a.m. 3.Pit Stop VFW Post Home 4.World War 1 (by Post Office) Time: 10:00 a.m. 5.Veteran’s Park (5) (Glen Avenue) Time: 10:20 a.m. 6.Spanish American (East Mason Street) Time: 10:40 a.m. 7.Veterans Memorial Bridge (12 Street) Time: 11:00 a.m. All those wishing to partake are to meet at the Berlin VFW Post Home no later than 8 a.m. Please ensure proper dress code for color and firing squad personnel is observed. Taps will be played by Ron Goyette. The public is welcome to attend.
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