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1. Who do I contact for wild animal complaints?

Contact the State of Maine Warden Service at 207-941-4440.

2. How do I contact Animal Control?

Contact Penobscot Regional Dispatch at 207-945-4636.

3. What do I do if I have an animal emergency?

Contact Penobscot Regional Dispatch at 207-945-4636.

4. Where do I register my dog and what do I need to bring?

You may register your dog at either the Veazie Town Office or online. You will need to provide a current rabies certificate and spayed/neuter certificate if applicable.

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1. Why did my mortgage appraisal come in less than my assessment? Is my tax valuation too high?

A mortgage appraisal is an opinion of value. You probably paid for it, but it wasn't done for you, it was done for the lending institution. Its purpose is to assess risk.

We like to review the appraisal to make sure that the basic data agrees with what we have on file. We also pay close attention to the comparable sales used in the appraisal and often develop our own list of comparable sales. At that point, we have already checked our records to see if our information is correct and will then meet with you to discuss the issue.

2. Is my assessed value what you think my house is actually worth?

Your tax-assessed value at a 100% average ratio is usually within 10% higher or lower than an actual sale might be.

While individual appraisals are opinions of property value based on a specific date and time and for a specific reason (refinancing, estate planning, etc), tax assessment is based on the mass appraisal method which deals with averages of sales in specific areas in a specific time period. Sales occurring after the assessment date are then part of the ongoing inventory of sales that determine when the next revaluation might occur.

3. Why is my property assessed higher than my neighbors?

No two properties are identical in that their location may be very similar but never the same. In a given neighborhood lots with the same square footage should be the same price provided that they share all of the same amenities. This also applies to the homes, if two houses were built in the same year, have identical square footage, the same story height, the same construction detail, and have the same number of plumbing fixtures, fireplaces, outbuildings, etc., the values should be the same.

4. When are taxes due?

All property taxes are due on September 30th of each year.

5. I purchased my property in June of this year, why is the former owner's name still listed on the tax bill?

In accordance with state statute, we are required to commit property taxes to the owner of record as of April 1st, the state-wide assessment date. The former owner's name is still listed because the sale took place after the date of April 1st.

6. Why did my assessment increase this year?

There could be several reasons for the increase in assessment:

• New construction has been added or remodeling has been done since last April 1st.
• Change in the use of the property has occurred, single family to multi-family or residential to commercial use.
• Market value has increased as a result of sales of comparable properties.
• Errors found in land size or construction details of structures.

7. What is Veazie’s tax year?

Veazie's tax year runs from July 1st to June 30th. The State of Maine Tax year begins on April 1st. The owner of record on April 1st of each year will receive the tax bill for the whole year. If the property is sold after April 1st the taxes are usually prorated at the closing.

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1. What information/documentation do I need to provide with my application?

The following must be provided for all household members and submitted with the application.

Identification for all adults and Social Security cards of all household members (including children)

• Passport/Visa and Immigration Paperwork (I-589, etc.)
• Proof of current expenses (most recent bills for your rent or mortgage, heating fuel, electricity, food, medical expenses, vehicle loans, etc. Bills must be current; GA does not pay back bills)
• Canceled checks, receipts, or other documents that show how you have spent any income you received during the past 30 days (repeat applicants)
• Bank and/or credit card statements for all accounts for the past 30 days showing the current balance
• Landlord Verification
• Doctor's statement (if you are unable to work)
• Proof of all current assets (vehicles etc.)
• Proof of all benefits received
• Proof of any and all money, including wages and commission, available to the household during the last 30 days. Income and financial resources are not limited to wages from jobs. Additional income sources include cash on hand, money received, or bills paid by family/friends, income tax refunds, unemployment benefits, child support benefits, social security benefits, SSI/SSDI disability benefits, checking/savings, veteran's Pensions, rental Income, loans, worker's compensation, savings bonds, trust funds annuity, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, school loans, financial resources, car/recreational vehicles, and/or real estate holdings.

It is your responsibility to show that you are eligible for general assistance. If you do not bring all the information requested, your case may be denied until such information is provided.

2. What if I have an emergency and the Town Office is closed?

If it is on a weekend or after hours and you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 207-922-5970. If you receive our voicemail, please provide your name, address, phone number, and a detailed message. We will return your call as soon as possible.

3. How can I apply?

Once you have completed the General Assistance Application (PDF) and have all the Required Documentation, please call 207.947.2781 to schedule an appointment.

4. What is General Assistance?

Every municipality in Maine has a General Assistance program (GA) that is designed to assist eligible residents with basic necessities when they are unable to do so on their own. General Assistance is intended to be a program of "last resort", other available programs, finances, or assistance programs must be utilized first before seeking GA. General Assistance is granted in voucher form only and does not pay overdue bills or security deposits. Town of Veazie General Assistance is available to Veazie residents only.

The General Assistance Program is the most accountable assistance program in the State of Maine, and applicants are required to reduce their reliance on General Assistance. This may mean searching for employment or applying for disability benefits, SNAP, TANF, and/or other state and federal benefits.

5. Do I have to be a Veazie resident?

For the purposes of this program a "resident" means a person who is physically present in Veazie with the intention of remaining in Veazie to maintain or establish a home and who has no other residence.

6. If I receive Food Stamps, TANF, Social Security, Veterans Benefits, Unemployment or Worker’s Compensation am I still able to receive General Assistance?

Maybe. If your income is less than your necessary expenses and the program's income maximum, you may be eligible to receive General Assistance.

7. How much assistance can I get?

The General Assistance Program is regulated by State Law, which has set an overall maximum amount of assistance that a household can receive. In addition, each municipality's GA guidelines contain the maximum amounts of assistance allowable for each category of assistance including, rent, food, electricity, etc. We cannot exceed those established maximums even though household expenses for various items may exceed those amounts. To be eligible, your income must fall below the overall maximum level of assistance for a household your size, and your income must also be less than the amount you need to pay for basic necessities using Town guidelines.

8. When will I get help?

We will issue you a written decision as to your eligibility within 24 hours after you apply and we will promptly furnish any assistance for which you are determined eligible within our guidelines. However, please be aware that if you have not furnished sufficient information, including the verification required, to enable us to determine eligibility, we must consider your application incomplete and find you ineligible for any assistance until you reapply with adequate information.

9. If I am eligible will I get cash or a check?

General Assistance does not furnish money directly to the eligible person or household. All assistance is issued in the form of Town vouchers payable to vendors who have provided your household with goods or services.

10. What would cause me to be ineligible or disqualified from the General Assistance Program?

General Assistance is a program that encourages clients to do all they can to prevent needing future assistance. An applicant may be found ineligible to receive general assistance if they: misspend or cannot account for their money, quit or are fired from employment, willfully make a false representation about their situation, fail to furnish information to the administrator, forfeit a benefit such as SNAP, housing subsidy, unearned income, etc. Applicants may be subject to a 120-day disqualification if they do not adhere to program rules.

11. How long can I continue to get help?

At the time an applicant receives a decision on their application, the administrator will inform them of their responsibilities for being eligible in the future. The period covered by your application and any assistance given under that application cannot exceed 30 days. However, there is no limitation on how many times a person can reapply and continue to be found eligible for assistance. The General Assistance program budgets your needs for 30 days forward from the date of your application. Upon a repeat application for General Assistance, the client must provide documentation (receipts) of all their spending over the past thirty days. The amount of income from all sources received by the household must be provided. The Applicant must show that they have utilized all potential resources the administrator referred them to on their notice of eligibility.

12. Is the information I give on my application kept confidential?

Yes. Your application and any case records pertaining to it are strictly confidential by law. You, the applicant, your attorney and certain government personnel may review your records. The Town will need to know who to pay your GA vouchers to, such as your landlord. The Town will also need for you to give permission for them to contact people who can verify your income and other necessary information. The general public cannot review your records unless you have given your written permission.

13. What resources should I use before applying for General Assistance?

You are required to use your income for basic necessities.

In addition, you must use any and all resources that would reduce your need for GA. If you refuse to use a resource without a good reason, you will be ineligible to receive assistance until you do so. These resources include:

• AFDC, TANF, SSI, SNAP, HEAP fuel benefits, and other government programs
• Trust funds
• Alimony or child support programs
• Educational, retraining, medical, or rehabilitative programs
• Money from others or bills paid by others on your behalf
• Unnecessary assets, such as extra vehicles and real estate, which you may be required to sell

14. Are there any work requirements?

If you are unemployed or underemployed, but able to work, you must:

• Register for work at the Maine Job Service
• Actively look for work
• Accept any job offer
• Participate in any no-cost training, retraining, educational, or rehabilitative program that would help you get a job if referred to such a program by your caseworker

If you do not comply with the work requirements, and you do not have a good reason for not complying, you will not be eligible to receive GA for 120 days.

If you have been working but quit your job without a good reason or got fired from your job, you are automatically ineligible to receive assistance for 120 days from the date of separation from your employment.

15. What are my responsibilities?

You have the responsibility to:

• Provide complete and accurate information
• Provide written documentation of your expenses (bills, receipts, etc.)
• Notify the caseworker if there are any changes in your circumstances (income, etc.)
• Use your income for basic necessities (food, rent, fuel, utilities, medicine, clothing)
• Make every effort to use potential resources, including other government benefit programs, private pensions, support payments, etc.
• Attempt to find and accept work
• Not quite work or get fired
• Participate in an education or training program to help you become employed
• Sell your non-essential assets at fair market price (vehicles, boats, real estate, etc.)
• Find affordable housing within your ability to pay
• Request assistance with bills that are current (due that month)
• Check fuel supply (oil, wood, gas) on a regular basis and request GA before running out
• Tell the truth - if you don't, you'll be disqualified for 120 days and may be prosecuted for committing a crime

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1. Where can I obtain a hunting and/or fishing license?

You can purchase a hunting and/or fishing license directly from the Town Office or by visiting the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Website.

2. How do I purchase a lifetime license?

For more information about the Lifetime License Program, please call 207-287-8000.

3. Can I purchase a non-resident hunting and/or fishing license?

You can purchase a non-resident hunting and/or fishing license directly from the Town Office or by visiting the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Website.

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1. Can I apply for a concealed weapons permit? If so, where?

Town of Veazie residents are able to apply for a concealed weapons permit through the Veazie Police Department. Concealed Weapons Application (PDF)

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1. Where can I register my ATV, snowmobile or watercraft online?

You can register ATVs, snowmobiles, and watercraft at the Town Office or by visiting the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Website.

2. What do I need to bring to register a new ATV, snowmobile or watercraft?

• Dealer sale: Purchase agreement (or document showing sales tax was paid at the dealer)
• Private Sale: Bill of sale, and previous owner’s registration. If the registration is not available, please bring the ME number (registration number on the side of the recreational vehicle) and the serial number.

3. What do I need to bring to renew a new ATV, snowmobile or watercraft?

Previous registration is all that is required.

4. When to ATVs, snowmobiles and watercrafts expire?

• ATVs: June 30th
• Snowmobiles: June 30th
• Watercraft: December 31st

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1. Where can I dispose of furniture, appliances, construction debris etc.?

The Town holds a bulky waste cleanup once in the Spring. If you need to dispose of these items before or after the cleanup, for a fee you may take them to Northstar Waste or Pine Tree Transfer Station, Hampden.

• Northstar Waste and Recycling / Landscape Products Facebook Page
• Pine Tree Transfer Station Website

2. What should I put my recyclables in?

Recyclables may be put in any type of tote, can etc. The Town Office has recycle stickers available, free of charge for residents.

3. What day is Recycling?

Recycling is every other week beginning October 25, 2023.

4. What day is trash removal?

Trash collection is every Wednesday and must be curbside no later than 7 am.

5. What can I do with expired or unwanted medications?

Expired or unwanted medications can be taken to the Town Office and deposited into the Med Return box.

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1. How do I obtain copies of birth, death, marriage or domestic partnership records?

Records may be obtained directly from the Town Office. You will need to provide positive identification, and if requesting the record of a parent or grandparent and you are not a registered genealogist, proof of direct lineage.

2. Why do I need to provide positive identification when requesting a record?

While most requests for vital records are honest attempts to obtain one's own personal documentation, some are not; some are attempts to obtain information and documents needed to assume another person's identity. These documents can be used to obtain a driver's license, state photo ID, social security card, and passport under the assumed name, opening the door to credit card, bank and tax fraud; mail theft, and social security and insurance fraud. The requirement that you provide identification when requesting a copy of record helps to protect you and your family from this type of crime. 

3. What are acceptable forms of identification?

Acceptable forms of identification include a driver's license, passport, or other government-issued photo identification.

4. What if I do not have an acceptable photo ID?

If you do not have acceptable photo identification, you may present two items with your name on it from the following list: a utility bill, a bank statement, a car registration, a copy of an income tax return, a personal check with address, a previously issued vital record or marriage license, a letter from a government agency requesting a vital record (for example, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services), a Department of Corrections identification card, a Social Security card, a DD214, a hospital birth worksheet, a license or rental agreement, a pay stub (W-2), a voter registration card, and a school or employee photo ID.  Other forms of identification listing your name, date of birth, and address may also be considered.

5. How much do certified copies cost?

The first copy is $15, and additional copies of the same vital record are $6 if purchased at the same time.

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1. Where do I register to vote and what do I need to bring?

You may register to vote at the Town Office. You will need to provide identification as well as proof of residency. Utility bills with a Veazie address are acceptable to prove residency.

2. Where do I go to vote?

Elections are held in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building located at 1084 Main Street. Elections for Town Meeting are held at the Municipal Building and Town Meeting is held at the Veazie Community School starting at 8 pm.

3. What hours are the polls open?

The polls are open from 8 am to 8 pm.

4. Can I vote absentee? If so, what is the process?

Any registered voter may cast an absentee ballot instead of voting in person at a voting place on Election Day. You don’t need to have a specific reason or be unable to vote at the polls on Election Day to receive an absentee ballot.

5. When can I request an absentee ballot?

Absentee ballots may be requested beginning 3 months before Election Day and until the third business day prior to the election. You will need to affirm that there are special circumstances as to why you were not able to make the request within the timeframe, (e.g. medical emergency, emergency work trip, etc.). Make your request early to allow enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you.