POLAND — Selectmen agreed Tuesday to hold a special meeting on Sept. 14 to set this year’s property tax rate.

The board normally sets the tax rate in August, but couldn’t do so this year because the school budget has not been approved.

Voters in RSU 16’s three member towns have twice rejected proposed budgets in validation referendums, but will go to the polls on Sept. 13 to try for a third time.

Acting Town Manager Don Gerrish told selectmen that the prospects were strong that, if the school budget passes as proposed, they may be able to keep the property tax rate at last year’s level.

“You may be able to set the mill rate at $13.40 — same as last year. We met with the assessing agent and it appears they picked up 4 million in new value,” Gerrish said.

The RSU 16 School Committee last week whittled the budget down to the point where, it was estimated, the taxes on a property in Poland valued at $100,000 would go up by $9.49.

Gerrish said he believed the increase in the town’s property value could cancel out the effects of the increased school budget.

The board’s liaison to the School Committee, Steve Robinson, reported that the School Committee will be recommending a $17,847,765 budget at the district meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 7, at the Poland Regional High School.

The amount approved at that meeting will be forwarded for a validation referendum vote on Sept. 13, with polls open in the three towns from 4 to 8 p.m.

In other business, selectmen agreed to meet with the Poland Conservation Committee on Aug. 30 to discuss the town forest conservation easement. Selectman Larry Moreau noted that the lists of uses and restrictions need work.

Selectmen also agreed that they would not request that the town develop an ordinance to limit or prohibit the sale and use of fireworks, relying, for the present, on state regulation.

Selectmen also accepted an invitation from the Hollis selectmen to a joint meeting of the boards from Kingfield, Hollis and Poland to discuss water extraction activities in the three towns, the meeting to be held in Poland in mid-September.

Gerrish also reported that he was working out the details of hiring Chris Hanson, the code enforcement officer for Raymond, to help out in Poland one day a week.