MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County is looking to its municipalities for help after voters last month rejected an $11 million bond aimed at filling a multi-million-dollar budget shortfall.

County commissioners are now requesting that towns pay their county taxes early to help pay off an $8 million tax anticipation note (TAN) owed to Machias Savings Bank.

“The bond didn’t pass here in Washington County, but we still have to pay that off,” said Commissioner David Burns. “And that money has to come from taxes from the towns.”

The TAN is a short-term loan the county uses to fund core services while waiting for tax revenue to come in throughout the year.

"Whether it's law enforcement, the probate, or jail, we have to have these operating expenses," Burns explained.

By getting those tax paym

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