LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters will be asked Monday to reconsider six articles related to a $2.25 million municipal budget that were rejected at a town meeting referendum vote on June 11.
Residents will also be asked to amend a couple of ordinances, transfer $180,000 from the town’s undesignated fund balance and carryover money at a special town meeting at 6 p.m. July 22 at the Town Office.
The proposed budget is $47,774 less than last year, Town Manager Kristal Flagg said Tuesday.
Selectmen opted to send the articles back untouched so people can discuss them and vote. Some articles will not be revoted.
The town carried over $164,000 from last year’s budget that was either raised through taxation and not spent or came in as unanticipated revenue, she said. The town received about $93,000 more revenue than expected.
Voters will be asked Monday to transfer $180,000 from the undesignated fund to cover expenses proposed for this year, she said.
The plan is to keep the same tax rate as last year, $20.80 per $1,000 of valuation. It factors in lower state revenue sharing and a $128,000 increase in the town’s share of RSU 73 budget, she said.
Residents will be asked to transfer up to an additional $15,000 to hire a consultant to investigate developing a municipal tax-increment financing program. It would be based on Central Maine Power’s $17 million upgrade at its substation on Moose Hill Road. There is a possibility the town could capture some tax dollars that could pay for infrastructure improvements, including storm drains and sewer lines. The money for the consultant would be reimbursed through the TIF if it is approved, Flagg said.
If all transfers are approved, it would leave the town with a little less than $1 million in the general fund balance, she said. Auditors recommend having three months of money on hand to run the town, which is about $900,000, she said.
Among the articles to be reconsidered is $38,350 for elected officials. It reflects moving the treasurer’s position, since it is no longer elected, to the administration budget.
The proposed administration article is $197,861, $32,695 more than last year.
Other articles going to voters are $266,934 for contractual, which is up $375 due to an increased ambulance subsidy.
A code enforcement article is $15,108, including $600 for geographic information maps that were not budgeted last year.
Another article pertains to capital improvements for $66,960. It covers a police cruiser, a dump body, a V-plow and increasing a reserve account for self-contained breathing apparatuses for firefighters.
There is an article that addresses $26,590 for debt service for the second of three payments for a backhoe voters approved buying last year.
Residents will also be asked to carry over about $18,659.35 for the Fire Department to cover the final payment of firefighters stipends as of June 30. Another proposed carryover is $25,000 for dangerous buildings that was approved last year.
Voters will consider amending two ordinances passed in June. A Floodplain Management Ordinance needs to have digital map references changed due to a state error. The Consumer Fireworks Ordinance also needs to be changed to reflect that Livermore Falls police or a constable will enforce it.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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