The Harpswell Select Board is hoping residents won’t get too superstitious about the town’s new property tax rate of $6.66 — an increase of 30 cents, or 4.7 percent.

“I will say, that’s not a very lucky number,” Select Board member Matt Gilley said during a special meeting Tuesday to approve the tax rate.

“I know. It’s the devil’s number,” Select Board Chair Kevin Johnson replied. “But there’s another way to look at it: It’s the prefix for Bowdoinham [phone numbers].”

Town Assessing Agent Debbie Turner gave the Select Board multiple options ranging from $6.65 to $6.68, adding that even numbers work better for rounding purposes. So the board went with the lowest even-numbered option, approving the increase 3-0.

At $6.66 per $1,000 of valuation, Harpswell’s property tax rate remains amon

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