Regarding Albert DiMillo Jr.’s column “Tax reform can’t be distinct from spending cuts” (Sept. 11), I agree that the threshold of the top income tax bracket should be increased from the current level. more »

SKOWHEGAN — Houses are selling better than paper mills and that’s bad news for homeowners with tax bills coming soon.Taxes for residential properties in Skowhegan are estimated to increase over 15 percent on average this year — many home owners will see increases of over 20 percent — with the majority of that jump related to the boom market in real estate in past years, according to Bill Van Tuinen, assessor’s agent. more »

BELFAST: Several years ago, building permits for new condominiums in Belfast were far more plentiful than for single-family homes.

But that was several years ago. more »

Finding an affordable house in the greater Bangor area is more difficult than some prospective buyers originally anticipated, but housing officials say there are affordable homes out there.

“The vast majority of houses I’ve seen need substantial work in the first few years of owning them,” Tanya Pereira, 30, of Holden, who is looking to buy a home, said Thursday. “At this price range, there’s very little that’s ready to go without some sort of investment.” more »

Maine Revenue Services will be accepting Property Tax and Rent Refund applications beginning on August 1st. The program will allow income-eligible Maine residents to apply for refunds for assessed property tax or rent paid during 2006. more »

In Kennebunkport, those living on or near the water aren’t paying what they should.

— The inability of state and local leaders to address Maine’s high tax burden has far-reaching consequences, and in Kennebunkport, fairness is what is being lost to inaction. more »

AUGUSTA : Toward the end of the legislative session, a complicated tax-shift proposal was exposed to the people of Maine. more »

SCARBOROUGH (July 18, 2007): Officials from Scarborough Downs have been meeting with town councilors about a potential deal that could bring a large commercial and residential development to the 485 undeveloped acres around the track. more »

FARMINGTON — A cluster-type subdivision with 23 compact cottages geared for “senior living” is being proposed on nearly 20 acres of land off Wilton Road.The project, proposed by the Wiscassett-based, nonprofit economic and community development organization Coastal Enterprises Inc., would address the existing and projected need for affordable housing for the area’s aging population, said project manager John Egan. more »

SOUTH PORTLAND (AP) — Maine home sales continued to lose ground last month.

The Maine Real Estate Information Service says sales of existing single-family homes dropped 18.5% in May. But the median price dropped only two percent from the same period last year. more »

READFIELD — Residents are waiting to see if the property tax rate will decrease or stay the same after approving municipal and school budgets that were about $160,000 less than the current year’s.

Readfield taxpayers currently pay $15.50 for every $1,000 worth of taxable property, town clerk Robin Lint said. more »