WATERFORD — Voters head to the polls Friday to choose a selectman and a school director.
Polls will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building at 366 Valley Road.
Selectman Wyatt Andrews and political newcomer Todd Sawyer will face off for the three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen. The winner will join Randy Lessard and John Bell.
Judith Greene, a longtime director of School Administrative District 17, is seeking re-election to a three-year term.
Action on the 70-article warrant continues at 9 a.m. Saturday, at the Municipal Office. Voters will be asked to approve a $1.82 million municipal budget, which is down slightly from $1.85 million last year.
The total for municipal, SAD 17 and Oxford County costs for Waterford voters is nearly $4.08 million for 2019. That’s $7,356 less than in 2018.
Selectmen said if all spending articles are approved as submitted, a reduction in the tax burden is approved as submitted, and property values are unchanged, the tax rate might stay at $15.40 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
In 2018, the town overspent its budget, in part, because of unexpected costs for the transfer station and highways, officials said.
Voters will also be asked to authorize the board to take surplus money from one account to cover overdrafts in others.
The largest cost-driver in this year’s municipal budget is capital improvements to roads, according to information from the Board of Selectmen.
Selectmen are asking voters to approve $483,440 for tarring or resurfacing roads, $239,446 for highways and bridges, $117,857 for plowing and sanding roads.
The cost of recycling has gone up dramatically over the past several years with the town paying $100 per ton to dispose of recyclables instead of getting money for them. Officials are asking for $13,000 for the tipping fees, an increase of about $9,500.
Voters will be asked to raise and appropriate $45,000 for fire protection and $10,600 for fire chief and assistant fire chiefs’ salaries, plus $26,024 for the town’s share of Stoneham Rescue.
Other requests include:
• $91,674 for health insurance;
• $16,000 for library;
• $75,00 for future equipment purchases;
• $27,500 for legal expenses;
• $129,585 for town employee salaries; and
• $49,486 for parks and recreation.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
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