Finding #33 — Brochure Showed 10.87 Mills / +$532 — School Committee Approved 10.34 Mills / +$338 — Public Document Never Corrected

Severity: critical · Category: taxes · Last updated: May 14, 2026 · Dollar amount: −$194/yr

Summary

The official FY27 brochure mailed to every Gorham homeowner showed a proposed mill rate of 10.87 and an annual increase of $532 on a $400,000 home. The School Committee voted on April 8 to approve a budget at 10.34 mills — $194/year less on the same home. The brochure was never corrected or retracted.

Detail

The February 11, 2026 FY27 Budget Brochure — the public-facing document mailed to Gorham homeowners — showed:

• Proposed mill rate: 10.87 • Annual increase on a $400,000 home: +$532 • Annual increase on a $500,000 home: +$665

The School Committee voted 7-0 on April 8, 2026 to approve a budget based on:

Impact

$194/year difference between what the brochure says and what was actually approved — the public document voters received has not been corrected

Source

Document: FY27 Budget Brochure + School Committee Vote April 8, 2026 + Town Council Budget Booklet (April 15, 2026)
Reference: Brochure: Taxpayer Impact Table (mill rate 10.87, $532 on $400K) · School Committee Vote April 8 (mill rate 10.34, $338.20 on $400K) · Town Council Budget Booklet p.8 — Taxpayer Impact (School Committee-approved figures)

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