DIXFIELD — Selectmen and the Finance Committee finished their first review of a proposed 2012-13 municipal budget Monday night that shows a nearly 12 percent increase.
But by the final budget meeting, Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky promised he would present an amended figure that would reduce that first proposed increase by half.
Neither selectmen nor Finance Committee members vote on each of the cost centers during the budget development process. Instead, they hear presentations from each department head before deciding how much or whether to reduce funding requests.
For review during the past few meetings, the two boards heard the reasoning behind a very tentatively proposed 2012-13 budget of $2,183,461, up from the current operating budget of $1,952,568.
Significantly higher fuel and gasoline costs and a 5-percent salary increase for most of the town’s 20-plus employees account for much of the increase.
Also up this year are the costs and need for sand and salt, as well as an increase in most reserve accounts. Skibitsky said some of the funding likely will be taken from one or more of these accounts.
Right now, the reserve accounts call for raising $125,000 for road work, $50,000 for highway equipment and $50,000 for a fire engine, among other things.
“We need to cut about $172,000 from the proposed budget to bring it down to a 5 to 6 percent increase,” Skibitsky said. He said such an increase would bring Dixfield more in line with the neighboring towns of Mexico and Rumford.
“On April 30, I’ll come with recommendations with where to cut,” Skibitsky said.
That meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Town Office.
The current tax rate is $18 per $1,000 valuation, with one mill equal to $156,000.
The finalized municipal budget will go before residents at the annual town meeting set for May 24 at Dirigo High School.
The municipal budget is one part of the total property taxes residents must pay. Dixfield’s share of the Oxford County budget, as well as of RSU 10, make up the other parts and are not included in the $2.2 million figure.
The RSU 10 budget is expected to be finalized April 30. Residents of the member towns will vote on it in June.
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