LIVERMORE — The town is estimated to lose about $50,000 from the 2013 state-revenue sharing program. Residents voted to take a preventative measure to cushion the blow during the annual June town meeting.
The town had received $36,615 in reimbursement for wood cut illegally in Memorial Forest. The total amount was more than that but it went to offset the town’s expenses during the process to get reimbursed.
Voters at the recommendation of town administrative assistant Kurt Schaub at town meeting voted to use half of the money from the timber settlement to offset the proposed loss of state revenue. The other half is slated to be used next year. The Legislature’s two-year budget eliminates about one-third of towns estimated revenue sharing for the next two years. Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal was to eliminate all revenue-sharing with towns over the same period.
Maine Revenue Services estimates for the current year that Livermore is now slated to receive $87,307.58 over the next 12 months, which is a reduction of roughly $50,000 from fiscal 2013, Schaub said.
“Given our ‘cushion’ from the Memorial Forest settlement, the net effect is approximately $30,000,” he said. “Coupled with other savings, there should be little effect on the municipal portion of this year’s tax rate.”
dperry@sunjournal.com
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