Aroostook town and paper mill clash over tax bill

Dispute Overview

The town of Madawaska, Maine, and Twin Rivers Paper Co. are locked in a dispute over a $25.3 million tax abatement request by the paper mill. The town denied the request after correcting a prior assessment error that increased the mill's valuation by over $20 million. The mill plans to appeal the decision to the state.

Conflicting Accounts

Both parties disagree on the assessment calculations. Twin Rivers claims the town incorrectly swapped real estate and personal property assessments, while the town maintains it made a different error using the mill's reimbursed instead of assessed value from 2021-2023. A third-party assessor supported the town's assessment of $65.2 million.

Arguments and Concerns

• Twin Rivers: Argues the assessment is unreasonable given market conditions, aging equipment, and industry pressures (tariffs, competitor closures).
• Madawaska: Insists the assessment is accurate and that approving the abatement would set a precedent for other businesses.

Twin Rivers CEO Tyler Rajeski highlighted the potential impact on the mill's future, citing the recent closure of a competitor mill in Ohio. The town countered that these broader economic factors are not relevant to the valuation process. The Madawaska Select Board voted 3-1 to deny the abatement request.