Top Ten Property Taxpayers in Bar Harbor Are Mostly Hotels
Town audit shows town itself uses the most water, Jackson Laboratory was top wastewater customer in FY2024
BAR HARBOR—The ten largest taxpayers in Bar Harbor provide 11% of the town’s levy, or just over $3 million in property taxes.
Most of those taxpayers are hotels.
The Witham Family LLC provided almost $900,000 to the town’s taxes for fiscal year 2024. That fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
Golden Anchor, LC, which is involved in a lawsuit against the town’s cruise ship ordinance which limits disembarkations, paid approximately $414,000.
Eden Street Trust, which is the Regency Hotel, paid approximately $355,000.
Almost all of the top ten were hotels or lodging. Jackson Laboratory’s housing, Versant Power, and Northerly LLC (private residence) were the exceptions.
By comparison, in FY2018, the highest taxpayer was the Golden Anchor, LC with $221,000 in taxes on an assessed value of just over $20 million. That amount has basically doubled in six years. Similarly, West Street Properties assessed value doubled. The only residential taxpayer at the time that made that top ten list was Tristram C. Colket Jr, with an assessed value of just over $7 million.
The council accepted and filed the FY24 audit as part of its consent agenda, which was presented at its May 10 meeting. This process occurs every year in all island towns.
Auditor James Wadman, CPA, and Bar Harbor Finance Director Sarah Gilbert presented the audit report to the councilors.
The tax levy in 2024 was $22,137,631. Four years earlier it had been $17,892,438. The town will undergo another property value reassessment later this year.
During the meeting, Wadman discussed the 109-page report. Much of the report was required disclosures. The clean opinion is on page 1-3. The town has a clean opinion this year, which indicates that the financial statements and disclosures are good. The report also shows the compliance of federal grants because the town exceeded more than $750k. The town has met the compliance requirements.
“You have a nice healthy financial position,” Wadman said.
While the audit was accepted, the order said that it was on the town’s website. It was not there at the time of the council’s acceptance, but was there this Friday, May 23.
SCHOOL SUBSIDY AND STATE AID
The audit also show the school subsidy paid from the state and other state aid. In 2023, Bar Harbor received approximately $1,453,00 from the state via revenue sharing, homestead exemption, general assistance, school subsidy and other aid. This is more than double the amount in 2018.
DEBT AND DEBT RATIOS
The report also shows the town’s debt and debt ratios. It has a per capita debt of $11,292, which is up from $2,922 the year before. This was due to the infrastructure bond approved by the voters. The school construction bond for the rebuild of Conners Emerson is not included in these numbers. It will be in next year’s audit.
The audit also includes a comparative balance sheet of the town’s general fund which shows assets and liabilities for the years 2019-2023. The amount between those years has increased by approximately $5,709,000.
WASTEWATER AND WATER USE
The audit also shows the largest producers of wastewater and users of water in the town. Jackson Laboratory, a genetic research facility produces about one-quarter of the town’s wastewater, paying approximately $574,000. Witham Family LLC was the second highest user. Six hotels were on the top ten list of customers as was the College of the Atlantic, Birch Bay Retirement Village, and MDI Hospital. Combined, the top ten users account for approximately 47.4% of the total.
The town itself uses the most water ($614,519), its parks, buildings, schools, and hydrants account for approximately 25.7% of the total use. The Jackson Laboratory at 9.5% is the second highest user. Five hotels, the Kebo Valley Golf Club, and the College of the Atlantic are also among the top ten highest users of town water, accounting for 45.4% of the overall total water use.
FUND BALANCE TRANSFER
Also on the council’s consent agenda was the transfer of unassigned fund balance to assigned for working capital.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Fine Violins by David.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
HOW YOU CAN BE MORE INVOLVED IN BAR HARBOR
Call For Volunteers - Northeast Creek Watershed Water Quality Monitoring
The Town of Bar Harbor is starting a Maine DEP Volunteer River Monitoring Program that will allow us to understand current water quality within the Northeast Creek Watershed and determine methods to protect this crucial resource in the future.
Program Details
Location: Northeast Creek Watershed
Monitoring: June – September 2025
Monitoring is expected to begin in June 2025 with sampling occurring at regular intervals through September.
Volunteering Details and Important Dates
Interested volunteers will have the opportunity to, upon registration, participate in two training opportunities to learn how to take water samples and use monitoring equipment.
Sign-up Deadline: Wednesday, May 28 at 5 p.m.
Mandatory Training Date: May 30 at 10:30 a.m.
If you are interested in registering as a volunteer, please reach out to Staff Planners Hailey Bondy or Cameron Sands.
hbondy@barharbormaine.gov or 207-288-1783 (or) csands@barharbormaine.gov or 207-288-1782
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