MACHIAS, Maine — The town was poised to sell an office building it owns until the selectmen learned that it earns $12,000 per year in rental income.
Addressing the selectmen at their April 13 meeting, Manager Christina Therrien said she did some research and learned that the building on Stackpole Road brings in money that helps fund the town’s administrative expenses.
“If you take that away, that’s $12,000 of tax burden you’re going to have to put on the town,” Therrien said. “I think [the building] will more than pay for itself.”
At their March 23 meeting, selectmen heard a presentation by Jill Daviero of the Portland office of Tranzon, a national real estate auction house.
The selectmen had intended to vote April 13 to hire Daviero’s firm to sell the building but instead decided to keep the building, known as the “telebusiness center,” as long as it remains an asset.
Selectman James “Doc” Whalen said the building was bringing in more than $30,000 several years ago.
“We’re on the downward trajectory,” he said, referring to rental income from the building.
The reason the building is bringing in less rental income now is because not all of the 29 units are filled. The vacancies are caused in part by a roof in need of repair and one of three heating units that is not working, Therrien said.
Selectmen agreed the town should get repair estimates for the roof and heating system.
Whalen also suggested checking every quarter to see how much money the building is making. When the income level drops below $10,000 annually, the town should get rid of it, he said.
Selectman Joshua Rolfe agreed.
Therrien said the building was constructed by the town in 1999 as a part of a job creation initiative and was funded with grant money. The building is 9,302 square feet and has room for 29 office tenants. There are 20 office spaces upstairs and nine downstairs, along with a training room, two conference rooms, a kitchen and two bathrooms.
The Atlantic Mental Health Center occupies the 20 spaces upstairs plus one of the spaces downstairs. An individual counselor rents one space downstairs and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles occupies one of the conference rooms once per month, she said.