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I'm looking to buy land in Penobscot County outside of Burlington.
Besides being a "from away" I wonder if you'd be so kind as to share some Maine wisdom! I grew up in a Boston suburb but have lived in New Hampshire for 30 years now. I live on the MA/NH line near VT. As much as I have loved NH and raised my family on a small family farm here, I crave a more solitary existence close to the land. If you've lived in southern NH on this side of the state (Mount Monadnock), it has its own flavor as so many pockets do. I'd really love to hear what some of the differences are.
Snow doesn't scare me any. I'm interested in the governance, lifestyle, uniqueness that makes Maine so wonderful. With that, I submit to you!
Consider the UTs, I think they are offer much nicer living then the organized towns offer.
Thanks Submariner! Im looking at a small piece of land in Lowell. It's a 5.5hr drive from here so it's hard to get a feel for the area. It hasn't been logged out and seems fairly secluded. Just what I want to build my little cabin and keep my ducks. BTW .... what is "UTs"?
All of Maine was drawn on a 'plate' grid-work of townships. Every township being numbered. When a town organizes to be a business, they get to chose a name for themselves instead of using the numbering system.
At that point the town may hire selectmen, a town clerk, lawyer, tax-collector and they must begin raising taxes to pay for all of the salaries of these people they hire; along with any extra 'essential' costs [like rods and schools], plus they still must pay a set Mill-Rate to the County [for the county budget] and to the state [for the state budget].
Land-owners in an Unorganized Township [UT] pay taxes directly to the state. This covers all expenses of the County and state to provide: roads, Law Enforcement and schools.
UT residents do not pay the added layer of taxes for: a town hall, selectmen, clerks, tax-collectors, local PF / FD, city parks and rec, metro bus service, etc.
Sometimes an Organized Township will decide to become an Unorganized Township, or to burn their charter. Usually as a method of reducing their property tax Mill-Rate.
So far in Maine we have had 41 Organized Townships go through the process of becoming Unorganized Townships. The latest Township to go through this process was Oxbow in Aroostook County, who did it in 2015. I live in a UT, this UT burned their charter in the 1970s.
52% of townships in Maine are Unorganized Townships. While only a minority of towns in Maine are organized.
Thank you Gentlemen! I didn't see anywhere that mentioned the status of Lowell. I love that its so small. I wish I could get a feel for the area. Im not really a social person and prefer spending my time in the forest, garden, and working with my animals. Not that I don't get along with others.. I'm just hermity type. LOL From what I could glean so far it looks like my kind of heaven. Looking forward to getting up there in the new year! Merry Christmas/solstice/etc etc
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