The Westport Island Selectmen will hold a special town meeting Saturday, March 15, at the town hall, beginning at 9 a.m.

There will be two articles on the warrant - to elect a moderator, and to ask voters to authorize the selectmen to pay property tax abatements from the surplus and overlay accounts.

The article reads, "To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to fund the property tax abatements first from the property tax overlay and then if overlay is insufficient, from the surplus account until revoked or rescinded."

More money needs to be raised to pay for the abatements because of a computer error. Following the 2007 tax commitment and after the tax bills were sent out, the selectmen were told an error in the program had doubled the value of porches, decks, and additions. Some people were given abatements on the assumption the information from Newburg Associates was correct. However, the selectmen found out later that the error only applied to the decks and porches, and not additions.

The selectmen asked the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) how to handle the situation.

The selectmen were told by MMA that the town could not retrieve the money that had been paid in excess for the additional abatements. As to the abetments not yet granted because of the computer error, they should be based solely on overvalue of porches and decks, according to Attorney Richard Flewelling, from MMA Legal services. The selectmen were also told that a special town meeting was needed to authorize them to take money from the overlay and surplus accounts.

This week's selectmen's meeting was cancelled. The next selectmen's meeting will be held, Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m., at the town office.