JAY — Selectpersons and the Budget Committee reduced the proposed $6.2 million budget for 2014-15 to $5.57 million Monday.
It’s $490,336.93 less than the current $6 million budget.
The town departments and most associated expenses were reviewed Monday.
Prior to Tuesday’s budget meeting, the board and committee had reduced the amount taxpayers would have to raise under the proposal from $4.6 million to $3.9 million, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said Tuesday. It is $666,709 less than the initial spending plan would have required and $101,764.93 less than what had to be raised in the current budget.
The proposal protects town workers and services, but it does require employees to do more, including having the highway crew mow cemeteries.
LaFreniere said the proposed budget is a one-year plan until the outcome of Verso Paper Corp.’s mill and property valuation is known.
Capital reserve accounts took the biggest hit with several reduced and some eliminated. The Highway Department’s budget was reduced by $110,000. Of that amount, $100,000 came from equipment reserve targeted for trucks and $10,000 came from the salt and sand line. The capital equipment line was left at zero. The proposal now stands at $1.37 million.
The proposed capital paving budget of $450,000 was cut in half, she said.
The $130,000 to replace sewer lines on Smith Avenue was also eliminated.
The street light line was reduced from $62,615 to $48,000, LaFreniere said.
A committee will be established to look at possibly shutting off 25 percent of street lights in town, she said.
There are 397 street lights and 18 special facility lights in town, she said.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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