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Author: Melissa Doane

Important Upcoming Dates Viola Rand School Closure, Municipal Budget, Annual Referendum

Important Upcoming Dates

Viola Rand School Closure

Municipal Budget

Town of Bradley Annual Referendum

Please do not hesitate to contact Town Manager Melissa Doane with any questions or comments. 

April 9, 2025- RSU 34 School Board Meeting- 6:30 pm Leonard Middle School

April 11, 2025- Absentee Ballots available for May 12, 2025, RSU Referendum (Viola Rand School Closure)

April 29, 2025- Town Council Public Hearing RE:  Municipal Budget and Dog Ordinance- 6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

April 30, 2025 -RSU 34 Board Public Hearing RE: Viola Rand School Closure Referendum-6:30 pm Leonard Middle School

May 9, 2025- Absentee Ballots available for June 10, 2025 Annual Referendum

May 12, 2025- RSU 34 Viola Rand School Closure Referendum-3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Bradley Fire Station

May 13, 2025- Town Council Meeting- 6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

May 27, 2025- Town Council Public Hearing RE:  June 10, 2025 Annual Referendum-6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

June 10, 2025- Town of Bradley Annual Referendum- 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Bradley Fire Station

June 10, 2025- Town Council Meeting 6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

June 24, 2025- Town Council Meeting 6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

July 15, 2025- Town Council Meeting -6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

July 29, 2025- Town Council Meeting 6:30 pm Bradley Muni Build

 

 

 

Viola Rand School Closure Update

Last night, the RSU 34 Board unanimously voted to approve the closure of Viola Rand School at the end of this school year. Bradley voters can approve this closure by referendum on May 12, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Fire Station. Absentee ballots will be available starting April 11, 2025.

A “NO” vote would oppose the closure, meaning Bradley taxpayers would bear the entire estimated cost savings of $315,345.66. This represents an estimated increase of $1.85 in the tax rate, which is significant, as this rate increase does not include the county tax or municipal budget.

A “YES” vote supports closing the school, and the 25-26 RSU budget will be distributed among Alton, Bradley, and Old Town.

Questions and comments can be directed to RSU 34 Superintendent Matt Cyr at 207-827-7171 or matthew.cyr@rsu34.org or to Town of Bradley Town Manager Melissa Doane at 207-827-7725 or mldoane@townofbradley.net. A public hearing is expected to be held on April 30, 2025, though the time and place have yet to be determined. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

Superintendent Matt Cyr provided a detailed upated in his March 20, 2025 Newsletter.

 

RSU 34 2025-2025 Budget Development Survey and Information

RSU 34 has started its budget process.  This year has proved to be sustainably difficult.  Several factors are making this process difficult, though the decline in student enrollment and special education needs and costs have risen to the top.  A responsible step is having Old Elementary School educate all K-5 RSU 34’s students and operate an Early Childhood Center, serving all RSU 34’s Pre-K students (as is soon required by the state), assuming case management services for 3-year-olds from Child Development Services (CDS).  This center would operate at either Alton Elementary or Viola Rand School.  In this model, the RSU 34 School Board would follow school closure considerations outlined in the statute for what to do with the empty school.

The RSU staff and RSU board are working diligently to provide excellent educational opportunities to the RSU students while protecting taxpayer appropriations.  Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in the budget process to help determine the best path forward.   There are several ways to accomplish this:

Complete the online survey.

In addition to the online survey, there will be opportunities for public comment at upcoming RSU 34 School Board meetings and Budget Workshops. All these meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Leonard Middle School Cafeteria:

Budget Workshop: March 5, 2025

Budget Workshop (if needed): March 12, 2025

Regular School Board Meeting: March 19, 2025

Budget Workshop (if needed): March 26, 2025

Budget Workshop (if needed): April 2, 2025

Budget Workshop (if needed): April 9, 2025

Regular School Board Meeting: April 16, 2025

The RSU staff has worked and will continue to work on providing as much information as possible to the elected officials of RSU 34 and each RSU 34 community. The document Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Development Process was presented to the Bradley Town Council on February 25, 2025. To view this presentation, please visit the Town of Bradley Facebook Page or the Town of Bradley YouTube Channel. The RSU staff also created an overview of the facility at Alton Elementary and Viola Rand School.

These budget considerations are complex, and more information and decision-making is required.  However, if the RSU Board determines that the Viola Rand School in Bradley is to close, a ballot question will be brought forward to the Bradley voters at the June 10th Annual Referendum.  This question will provide the cost savings generated with the closure.  The voters will be asked to accept or reject the closure.  If the voters support the closure, the process will move forward; if the voters reject the closure, the school will not close, and the cost savings lost due to this decision will be borne entirely by the taxpayers of Bradley; this cost will not be shared among the entire RSU.

If additional questions or comments are needed, please reach out to Superintendent Matthew Cyr or Assistant Superintendent Jon Doty.  You may also call the administrative offices of RSU 34 at 207-827-7171.

 

 

Holiday Hours and Trash Pick

Tuesday, December 24, 2024-Closing at Noon
Wednesday, December 25, 2024-Closed
Trash pick up for Christmas Week will be Friday, December 27, 2024
Tuesday, December 31, 2024-Closing at Noon
*** The Regularly Scheduled Town Council Meeting has been canceled.***
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 Closed
Trash pick up for New Year’s Week will be on Friday, January 3, 2025

Revaluation Questions and Answers

Revaluation Questions and Answers

What is a revaluation?

A revaluation is the process of conducting the data collection and market analysis necessary to equalize the values of all properties within a municipality for a fair distribution of the tax burden.

Why is a revaluation needed?

For the past several years the Town of Bradley has been experiencing tremendous growth and the real estate market has been thriving. Since property taxes, which pay for municipal services such as schools, fire & rescue, county services, waste disposal, road repairs, and snow removal, are based on market value; and because the market is constantly changing, it is essential that property values are kept current. Maine State law requires that cities and towns perform a revaluation whenever the ratio of assessment to sales price drops below 70 percent or the quality of assessments erodes. Before the revaluation, the Town of Bradley was declared at 69%. It is a legal requirement that all properties are assessed as close as possible to current market value to create an equitable distribution of the total tax burden.

What is market value and who determines my property value?

Market value is determined by the activity in the real estate market and the general economy. The value of your property is based on an analysis of the entire market for the full two calendar years before the completion of the revaluation project.

It is the Assessing Agent’s job to research and analyze the values in any particular area or neighborhood. In effect, he or she does what you would do to determine the selling price when putting your property up for sale. Examples of factors that are examined for each property are location, size, quality of construction, age of improvements, topography, utilities, and zoning restrictions.

Will a revaluation increase taxes?

A revaluation may result in an increase or decrease in individual assessments.  Assessed values are the base that is used to apportion the tax burden. The tax burden is the amount that the municipality must raise from property taxes to operate the local government and schools and to support the many services each of us has come to expect. Assessed values will most likely go up, but the tax rate will most likely go down. As a result, property owners may only experience a moderate increase in taxes or even a decrease.

Who conducted the revaluation?

The Bradley Town Council hired an Assessing Agent to perform the revaluation.  This Assessing Agent has completed a revaluation for the Town in 1990 and 2009.

 How does revaluation benefit property owners?

Property taxes are based on property values.  Without periodic revaluations, some property owners would pay relatively more while others would pay relatively less.  Revaluation resets property values to their current market values so that the property tax burden is equitable for all taxpayers.

In addition, when the ratio of assessment to sales price is 100%, the taxpayers receive the full amount of their exemption values.  Banks often call and request assessed values on properties, these amounts can be used for financing purposes.

How will I know if my assessment is equitable?

There are two very good methods of determining this. First, compare your property to similar properties that were sold in the previous year. Your value should be in line with these sale prices. Second, if no recent sales are available, compare your assessment to other similar properties in your area using listings that are available in the municipal office or by reviewing the real estate commitment book available on townofbradley.net.

Your value should be in line with these similar properties. Remember, very few properties are exactly alike. Your value should be comparable, but it seldom will be exactly the same as what seems to be a similar property.

If I disagree with my assessment, what are my options?

By State law, if a property owner believes the final assessment on their property is in excess of its fair market value, he or she will need to contact the Assessing Agent within 185 days of the date of Commitment to request an abatement of taxes. The Assessing Agent will make a determination and provide it to the Town Council for approval. If not satisfied with the Assessor’s determination, the property owner may also ask the Town Council to review the abatement.  If the property owner is not satisfied with either of those options, they can appeal to the Penobscot County Board of Assessment Review. The Board will review the case and determine the disposition of the appeal. After that, should the property owner still feel the assessment is incorrect; an appeal can be made to the Maine Superior Court and even to the Supreme Court. In the case of large commercial properties, the case will be heard by the State Board of Assessment Review before going to Superior Court.

Are there any tax relief measures available?

Yes! Tax relief programs are Veteran’s Exemption, Homestead Exemption, Tree Growth tax program, Farm and Open Space tax program, the Maine State Property Tax Deferral Program, the Maine Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement Program (BETR), and the Business Equipment Tax Exemption Program (BETE). Information regarding these programs can be found on the assessing page of townofbradley.net.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

Please contact Town Manager Melissa Doane at 207-827-7725 or email at mldoane@townofbradley.net

 

Maine is Replacing its General Issue Chickadee Plate in 2025 – Here’s How You Can Request to Keep Your Current Chickadee Plate Number in Advance

Beginning May 1, 2025, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and Agents will no longer issue license plates with the chickadee design. Anyone who currently has plates with the chickadee design will be required to obtain new plates when they renew their registration or obtain a new registration on or after May 1, 2025.

This means municipalities, including Bradley will be issuing a new plate when registrants with a chickadee plate renew their registrations.  For new registrations and renewals in the Passenger Class (PC) class code, registrants can choose:

  • a Pine Tree Plate (existing PC class code) for no additional costs or:

  • a “no tree plate” (new NT class code) for no additional costs or:

Plate Reservations:

Beginning June 3, 2024, registrants who would like to keep their current chickadee plate numbers may reserve their plate number for a $25 one-time fee. This includes people with vanity, low digit, and National Guard (PC class code) plates.

The BMV will be mailing postcards to registrants with active low digit, vanity, and National Guard plates in June, with information on how to reserve their plates. Registrants also may reserve if they simply like their current plate number.

  • Class codes that can be reserved are: Antique Auto (AQ), Combination (CM), Commercial (CO), Farm (FM), Motor Home (MH), Passenger Class (PC), Special Equipment (SE), Commercial Tractor (TT).
    • Non-chickadee plates will not have the option to reserve.
  • Tractor plates (TR) may only be reserved through the manual application process (MV-62).

There are four ways registrants may reserve their plate(s).

  1. Online through the stand-alone reservation portal at maine.gov/online/reservemyplate.
  2. Through a reservation process as part of the Rapid Renewal website.
    1. The closest BMV locations to Bradley is Bangor.
  3. By mailing the Application to Reserve a Plate Number (MV-62) to the Administrative Office.
    1. To view/download the Plate Number Reservation Application, please click here.
      1. All Plate Reservation Applications should be mailed to 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 with “Attention Registrations”.
More Information
Registrants with questions about reserving plates may contact: platereserve.bmv@maine.gov.
For additional information, please visit the Maine BMV’s FAQ about Plate Reservations by clicking here.