The Raymond Board of Selectmen plans to explore whether it can secede from Cumberland County.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to begin talks with Oxford County officials to see if joining that county is a possibility.

According to Town Manager Don Willard, the vote was in response to rising property taxes being levied against the town from Cumberland County. The town's county tax bill is expected to rise to more than $500,000, Willard said.

Town officials have been unhappy with the steady rise of the tax bill and what they see as a lack of service from Cumberland County.

In 2006 selectmen voted unanimously to not pay their county tax bill for the same reasons. The town eventually paid its bill.