Mobile homes in Maine (Cooper: living, prices, military)

[patsfan]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I had not heard anything to imply that anyone is 'frowning' on immigration here.

I am 7 miles from a I-95 onramp/offramp, and 12 miles on the freeway get me into Bangor. From the freeway to here it is good road all the way, power lines and phone lines are right at the pavement. A school bus stops at our driveway every school day for the kids. And the sheriff cruises our road once a day. I would not consider our unorganized township to be 'remote'.

Statements like that make the idea of moving to an 'unorganized township' sound very negative. When I do not think that you have any solid reasoning behind the negative tone.

The information comes from a lengthy article about 2-3 months ago in the BDN. It is not "people" frowning on new residents. It is the state goverment's concern with the rising cost of providing services to a fast growing population migrating to the unorganized territiories. I myself was shocked at the $$$ spent,I had no idea. Negative tone?? it seem's worth giving a potential new resident the information. There will be no ill will against them if they chose to live here, even in an unorganized territory or township. People in Maine just aren't that way. The state on the other hand would like new residents to move to existing organized towns where taxes are collected locally to pay for education, state police ect.
You may not live in a remote area yourself , but there are remote areas of Maine where people are more willing to live more then ever before. Again..this is from the BDN article not my opinion.
On a related issue some organized towns are unorganizing because they can no longer support their town governments, and the idea of the state picking up the cost seems like the only alternative for them. This turns up on the nightly news once in awhile, another town unorganinizing because they just don't see any other way to pay for increased expenses.
Exuse me for not being suzy sunshine just passing on information not opiniion.
I really didn't see the negative in the post.
Hmmm this seems like a new thread.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by patsfan

... On a related issue some organized towns are unorganizing because they can no longer support their town governments, and the idea of the state picking up the cost seems like the only alternative for them. This turns up on the nightly news once in awhile, another town unorganinizing because they just don't see any other way to pay for increased expenses. Exuse me for not being suzy sunshine just passing on information not opiniion. I really didn't see the negative in the post.
Hmmm this seems like a new thread.

I have seen that.

The next township over from me just 'organized'. They built a warehouse, voted in a mayor, hired a clerk, hired a tax assessor, hired a secretary, bought a firetruck and are organizing a volunteer fire department. Now their property taxes have gone up a lot. One couple I met taxes went from $35 to $1500. It does take money to hire all those folks.

On the other hand, I have also read about towns [I am thinking Hermon] where they are in the process of 'un-organizing'.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by patsfan

Maine state government is beginning to frown on people moving to the unorganized territories. It is costing the state mucho dollars to provide necessary services. This land is very reasonable but remote.

Just to clarify, it doesn't cost the state to provide day-to-day services in the Unorganized Territories, although LURC, the UT's planning board, does come out of the state budget. Services are financed by the property tax all UT property owners pay. Those taxes are low -- as Forest Beekeeper delights in reminding us -- because the UT has a LOT of territory (six million-plus acres IIRC) and very few people. Greenville, for example, provides fire and emergency-services coverage for a large chunk of the UT around Moosehead Lake, but it's reimbursed for that by the landowners in that region.

Some tiny towns on the edge of the UT want to deorganize to reduce their property taxes and because they just don't have anyone interested in serving in the various town offices anymore. The state is discouraging this because it adds to the burden for LURC, as well as some administrative tasks handled by Maine Revenue Services, which handles UT tax collection.

[forest beekeeper]

I am aware that LURC recently re-organized. When I was shopping for land, they had an office in Millinocket. I was able to get a lot of good information from that office concerning flood plains and wetlands. By the time that I had bought land and was ready to file for a building permit the Millinocket office had closed and everything had to go through the LURC office in Augusta.

The difference between being un-organized and having a town office is huge. 100 families paying taxes to support five town employees, vehicles, a building, a school district, and whatever other things that the government requires; is crazy.

$1,000 per family [in taxes] provides an average of $20,000 per town employee. You still need $8500 per school-age child for the school district, and for the building and it's maintenance, and for a firetruck.

It is very easy to add up a $2,000 tax bill for each family.

[patsfan]

Originally Posted by Coaster

Just to clarify, it doesn't cost the state to provide day-to-day services in the Unorganized Territories, although LURC, the UT's planning board, does come out of the state budget. Services are financed by the property tax all UT property owners pay. Those taxes are low -- as Forest Beekeeper delights in reminding us -- because the UT has a LOT of territory (six million-plus acres IIRC) and very few people. Greenville, for example, provides fire and emergency-services coverage for a large chunk of the UT around Moosehead Lake, but it's reimbursed for that by the landowners in that region.

Some tiny towns on the edge of the UT want to deorganize to reduce their property taxes and because they just don't have anyone interested in serving in the various town offices anymore. The state is discouraging this because it adds to the burden for LURC, as well as some administrative tasks handled by Maine Revenue Services, which handles UT tax collection.

the BDN is charging for access to the article I mentioned, but there is good info here ://www.maine.gov/legis/ofpr/UTSTUDY/utFINALexecsum.pdf
It is an interesting topic, I think we'll hear more about this in the near future.
Education must be where the major expense is. It's the biggest part of most town's budget. Time to go shovel...

[truthseeker2012]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

The costs of drilling a well does vary according to how deep you must drill it. That is correct.

The costs of putting in a septic system also varies according to soil types and drainage.

The prices that I quoted are what it cost us. My well was put in two years ago, my septic last year.

So these are not out of date price ranges either.

Forest what is the cost for power from the road to the house (A round about figure) I realize it matters on the length of the run.

[boonelsewhere]

I will let forest answer cost in his area.

If your property service by Bangor Hydro Electric, if your house is with in 1 electric pole(i think 200 feet) from thire servicing pole is free.
If it more than 1 pole, your pay the pole plus $14.95 per foot for wires. It was $4.95 per foot in the beginning of 2008.

Originally Posted by truthseeker2012

Forest what is the cost for power from the road to the house (A round about figure) I realize it matters on the length of the run.

[Valley Living]

I have had 3 wells and 3 septics completed in my lifetime so I feel qualified to help you with your questions. Realize that I am in Northern Maine. When I had lake shore property in 2001 I had a new septic system built. It was above ground and did not require a pump station. The system was built and designed professionally and cost me a wompping $11,000. I almost fell; actually I did fall on my back when I got the bill. I did recover most of the cost upon the sale of the property though. I then had a septic system planned at our camp in the Allagash and decided to save some money and build it myself. I got a small loan, bought a second hand Laymore Backhoe and built my own septic system with an above ground infiltrator system for less than $2000.00 I paid $7000.00 for the used tractor and roughly $2000.00 for everything else so a total of $9000. Not too bad considering I was able to keep the backhoe. At my current home I had my infiltrators extended so that the system could handle 200 gallons per day. (My wife is a beautiful Beautician LOL!!!) due to local zoning ordinances. The extension set me back $3500 but I did none of the work myself. All three wells that I had drilled cost me around $3000.00 each give or take a few $$$. Hope this information is helpfull to you and your projects.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Valley Living

I have had 3 wells and 3 septics completed in my lifetime so I feel qualified to help you with your questions. Realize that I am in Northern Maine. When I had lake shore property in 2001 I had a new septic system built. It was above ground and did not require a pump station. The system was built and designed professionally and cost me a wompping $11,000. I almost fell; actually I did fall on my back when I got the bill. I did recover most of the cost upon the sale of the property though. I then had a septic system planned at our camp in the Allagash and decided to save some money and build it myself. I got a small loan, bought a second hand Laymore Backhoe and built my own septic system with an above ground infiltrator system for less than $2000.00 I paid $7000.00 for the used tractor and roughly $2000.00 for everything else so a total of $9000. Not too bad considering I was able to keep the backhoe. At my current home I had my infiltrators extended so that the system could handle 200 gallons per day. (My wife is a beautiful Beautician LOL!!!) due to local zoning ordinances. The extension set me back $3500 but I did none of the work myself. All three wells that I had drilled cost me around $3000.00 each give or take a few $$$. Hope this information is helpfull to you and your projects.

We want photos of the Beautiful Beautician!!!

[Valley Living]

Here she is! Beautiful aint she!!!