BERLIN — The city’s fiscal year 2025 estimated tax rate is expected to rise by $1.47 per $1,000 property valuation — or $28.37 — after councilors voted to amend the budget by making department cuts so that taxes would not increase by $3.54 for a $30.44 rate.
A loss of revenue due to the Burgess BioPower ongoing bankruptcy proceedings and a financial overstatement in school department filings on state forms unsettled the city’s expectations. This led to less money from the fund balance available to reduce taxes, about $2,160,000 less.
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