Tax rates are being set for the year, and some towns, like Candia, are seeing large increases.

Candia
In Candia, the new tax rate increased by $2.31 per $1,000 of property value, to $20.90, a 12 percent hike.

The new rate will result in a bill of $5,225 for the owner of a home assessed at $250,000, about $577 higher than last year.

The town portion of the rate is responsible for the bulk of the hike, going from $2.75 to $4.40, a 60 percent increase. The school portion rose from $12.12 to $12.72; the county portion from $1.08 to $1.09; and the state portion from $2.64 to $2.69.

Epsom
In Epsom, the tax rate rose from $15.14 per $1,000 of property value to $17.35, a 14.5 percent increase. The owner of a $250,000 property should expect a bill of $4,337.50.

The town portion is $2.60, county portion is $2.51, state portion is $21.5, and the local school portion if $10.09.

Bills were expected to be mailed soon, said Epsom tax collector Dawn Blackwell, with payment due by Dec. 15.

Auburn
In Auburn, the tax rate rose 85 cents per $1,000 of property value, moving from $13.71 to $14.55, a 6 percent increase. The owner of a home valued at $250,000 can expect a tax bill of $3,637.50.

The town portion of the rate rose from $1.91 to $2.26; the school portion from $8.57 to $9.09; and the county portion from 90 cents to 94 cents. The state portion of the tax rate actually decreased from $2.33 to $2.26.

Auburn tax collector Kathleen Sylvia said bills were to be mailed by Nov. 7 and are due by Dec. 10.

Pembroke
The 2008 rate rose $2.16 to $25.82, a 9 percent increase. The town portion is $5.69, down 29 cents; the school portion is $14.98, up $2.15; the state school portion is $2.44, up 3 cents; and the county portion is $2.71; up 27 cents.

At the Town Meeting in March, the Pembroke Budget Committee had predicted a 7.6 percent tax increase for the town and school operating budgets and warrant articles.

At the School District Meeting, voters restored money that would have resulted in staffing and sports team cuts, so the 9 percent increase is very close to what was predicted in March.

Allenstown
Tax rate information was not available by press time.