TURNER – It took 96 citizens only three hours Saturday to complete the annual town meeting warrant of 55 articles. Only the discussion of flex benefits for town employees and drawing down the town’s surplus fund to offset taxes caused any amount of discussion.
Town Manager Jim Catlin proposed that flex benefits for 11 town employees, not including himself, be raised from $6,700 to $8,000 per person annually. The Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen proposed an increase of $200 to $6,900. Employees are allowed to use the benefit for health insurance, retirement plans, dental care and several other categories. They are also allowed to take the cash after taxes in lieu of using pre-tax dollars toward benefits. Catlin’s contention was based on the ever-rising costs of these benefits and the employee’s share toward those benefits rising each year.
Selectman Ralph Caldwell used a graphic to show the rise in the town’s cost for administration over the past five years and said he believes the employees are being treated quite well. There was also an explanation concerning longevity pay which the employees receive in addition to regular wages. In an attempt to retain trained employees, the town instituted the special pay which is assigned based on years of service. The longevity pay begins at five years of service adding $25 per week to that paycheck, while an employee with more than 16 years gets an additional $100 per week.
Residents overwhelmingly supported the Budget Committee/Selectmen’s recommendation of a $200 increase.
The longest discussion of the day came from a request that selectmen be allowed to use up to 20 percent of the town’s surplus to offset the tax mill rate. The surplus currently sits at approximately $800,000 and the auditors have recommended that the surplus be kept between $750,000 and $1.2 million. The surplus allows the town to continue to function when cash flow is low and taxes have not been paid. It prevents the town from having to take out tax anticipation notes for cash flow purposes. Following several amendments and continued discussion, the article was passed with a 10 percent amount but a cap that the surplus cannot fall below $750,000 for purposes of offsetting taxes.
The budget as passed on Saturday reflects a 1.4 percent decrease in municipal expenditures. However, an estimated increase of 8 percent in school assessments and 4 percent increase for county taxes will still cause an increase in the mill rate, according to officials.
Voters also approved $50,000 for an addition in the future to the town office, $20,000 toward a salt shed and $100,000 to the Highway Department equipment fund. They also approved the implementation of a Tax Increment Finance Policy recommended by the Economic Development Committee.
Ike Goodwin moderated the meeting which began with elections on Friday afternoon and continued with warrant articles at Saturday’s meeting.
This year’s town report was dedicated to Laurence Gagne who has served the town for 25 years on the fire department and rescue department. When the dedication was read, Gagne received a standing ovation.
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