CARTHAGE — The annual town meeting at 7 p.m. Monday will include electing three officers and appropriating $58,000 for the sanitation replacement fund.
It will be held in the Town Office building.
Selectman Steve Brown, who has served since 1980, said if the $408,343 municipal budget is passed as presented, the property tax rate will remain at $13 per $1,000 of assessed value.
With the state increasing the Homestead Exemption from $15,000 to $20,000, he said the estimated 200 property owners eligible for the exemption will save an average of $65.
Carthage has a population of 563.
Voters will be asked to appropriate $58,000 for the sanitation truck replacement fund. Brown said this additional money will enable the town to purchase a new compactor truck.
He said Carthage is in the second year of a five-year contract with Municipal Waste Services in Norridgewock. The town is hauling the trash as well and with the new and larger truck, fewer trips to the landfill will be necessary.
Voters will be asked to set aside $356,998 for the town’s increased education assessment.
Brown said the large increase in the town’s valuation is because of the Saddleback Ridge Wind Project, which will result in a future large increase in the education assessment.
“We’re planning ahead; setting money aside for when that (increase) kicks in,” he said.
Brown said Carthage also receives $48,000 per year from the 12-turbine Saddleback Ridge Wind Community Benefits Fund, which is used for such programs as the community activity group Generations Club.
Voters will also be asked to approved a 10-year extension of the Med-Care ambulance agreement. The current 10-year agreement does not expire until June 7, 2018.
If the extension passes, the next agreement would not begin until June 13, 2018. Med-Care serves 11 communities.
Up for election are Linda Berry as clerk/tax collector and Nancy Blodgett as treasurer. Also up for election is Selectman Banaman R. Weston.
Voting for these positions will take place from the floor.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
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