PHILLIPS — Voters will elect five officials at the annual town meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Phillips Area Community Center on Depot Street.
To be chosen are a town clerk, a selectman for a three-year term, two school board directors for three-year terms and one director for a one-year term.
Town Manager Elaine Hubbard said the proposed municipal budget is up about 4 percent from last year.
“Last year’s operating budget raised and appropriated was $1,170,811,” she said. “This year’s requested amount is $1,226,019.”
According to Hubbard, the Public Works/Highway Department budget request of $604,391 includes $200,000 for capital road improvements. The spending plan also covers salaries and benefits for the road commissioner, two full-time employees and two part-time employees. Money to run the town garage, repair and maintain the department’s equipment and vehicles, and the cost to purchase sand, salt, gravel and patching material, along with maintaining roads is also included.
Voters will be asked to spend $95,923 for public safety. That includes $9,200 for street lights, $30,300 for NorthStar Emergency Medical Services, $6,058 for animal control and $50,365 for fire hydrant rental.
Voters also will be asked to raise and appropriate $1,000 for repair of veterans’ gravestones. Maine law requires requires all municipalities to observe minimum standards for the care of veterans’ graves. Grass must be cut and trimmed, and flat grave markers must be kept free of grass and debris. From May 1 to Sept. 30, the burial sites also must be kept free of fallen trees, branches, vines and weeds, according to the law.
Voters also will consider approving $500 to support the Phillips Little League teams.
Each year, several nonprofit groups ask the town for money, but selectmen and the Budget Committee have recommended that these organizations should be supported by individuals, rather than by taxpayers, according to Hubbard. The requests include the United Methodist Economic Ministry, $500; American Red Cross, $500; Maine Public Broadcasting Network, $100; Healthy Community Coalition, $514; and Community Concepts, $500. Voters may vote these requests up or down at the town meeting.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
