At a February meeting of the Board of Selectmen, the Board voted to change from an annual tax billing to a semi-annual tax billing. The Board heard from residents about real savings generated by going to a semi-annual tax billing and other advantages.

We also heard from residents who prefer annual tax billing, as it allows those with investments to gain an additional months of interest and/or returns on their money before withdrawing funds to pay tax bills. Still other residents with seasonal income prefer annual tax billing because money can be quite tight for them during part of the year.

A group of residents submitted a warrant article by petition to raise the issue of semi-annual tax billing at Town Meeting. A technical issue of law made the warrant article non-binding; however, Town Meeting clearly supported delaying semi-annual tax billing.

On March 17, at the first Board meeting following Town Meeting, the Board voted to defer semi-annual tax billing until 2015. The Board still feels saving over $8,000 a year makes the change worthwhile. With over a year’s notice of the change from annual to semi-annual, everyone can be better prepared.