Residents of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine are facing the possibility of property tax increases following a vote in June that rejected plans to remove the Mayo Mill dam. Without outside funding, the town would need to spend nearly $10 million to bring the dam up to federal standards, including repairing the structure itself and upgrading fish passage. If self-financed, this cost could result in a tax increase of $679 per year for a resident with a $350,000 property valuation. The town is exploring grant opportunities for the project, but time is running out as deadlines loom. Federal funding options for fish passage could also be affected by the current administration. The Nature Conservancy and Atlantic Salmon Federation are ready to assist Dover-Foxcroft with a potential dam removal and river restoration plan. Some residents are concerned about the tax burden the project would create, emphasizing the need for more information on funding options and suggesting a reconsideration of dam removal. Unless the town changes course on dam maintenance, property tax increases are inevitable. Negotiations for a dam license extension with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are underway, with bid requests for engineering designs and consultants to guide the town through the licensing process. The deadline for grant applications is approaching, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
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