With 2026 budget ratified, York County municipalities to soon receive county tax bills
- Tammy L Wells
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
ALFRED, Maine – York County’s $28.6 million budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 is now in effect following a unanimous July 2 vote to ratify by York County Commissioners. The York County Budget Committee voted 5-4 in favor of passage in a June vote.
The tax bill to the county’s 29 municipalities comes in at $24.6 million. The tax formula used to determine a municipality’s share is based on the mil rate, which is calculated by the amount to be raised by taxation, divided by the state valuation for that municipality.
A sampling of assessments from six of the 29 municipalities shows Kennebunkport will be billed $1.8 million, up $309,583 from the prior year; North Berwick $469,946, up $29,359; Biddeford $1.8 million, up $113,807; Sanford $1.1 million, up $156,271; York $3.2 million, up $486,939, and Cornish, $103,915, up $12,883.
The county’s spending plan is up 13.6 percent, or by $3.27 million, from the prior year – based largely on increasing personnel costs, expenses associated with the expected 2026 startup of the training and recovery centers, and increases in expenses like utilities, tech licensing and jail operational costs. As well, during the budget process when it became apparent the countywide food pantry operated for many years by York County Shelter Programs would close, commissioners voted to add $100,000 to the budget to assist in its continuation under the helm of First County Foundation. The pantry is located in space provided by the county government for many years.
The budget contains one new position – that of grounds maintenance – which used to be performed by a contractor selected through a bid process, but there has been no recent interest, county officials said.
Another impact is a shifting of the tax burden among the county’s towns and cities. Overall, the state valuation of the 29 municipalities together is up $7 billion.
A sampling shows Kennebunkport’s 2025 valuation was $4.5 billion, up from $3.8 billion in 2024; North Berwick, $1.18 billion, up from $1.12 billion in 2024; Biddeford, $4.57 billion, up from $4.34 billion in 2024; Sanford’s 2025 valuation$2.82 billion, up from $2.46 billion in 2024; York was valued by the state $8.1 billion in 2025, up from $6.98 billion in 2024, and Cornish was valued at $261 million, up from $232 million in 2024.
Commissioner Richard Clark said he had attended most budget committee meetings and spoke of the work of County Manager Greg Zinser, Finance Director Lori Lemieux and Administrative Assistant Kathy Dumont.
“Greg and Lori did an excellent job presenting the county’s rationale,” said Clark, “and Kathy did a good job with the minutes.”
“I was there, and I agree 100 percent,” said Commission Chair Richard Dutremble.
Taxes from the municipalities are due Sept. 1. An interest rate of 7.5 percent on unpaid taxes begins after Oct. 31.
