LITCHFIELD — Voters will weigh in Saturday on a municipal budget that would pave several miles of roads, reroof the town office and pay off residents’ old ambulance rides.
Selectmen have supported a $1,346,411 budget, which is a 1.7 percent increase over the current year. Town Manager Mike Byron praised department heads for holding expenses down. The proposal maintains current staff and programs.
“They have proposed a very ‘hold-the-line’ budget, consequently the voters should be pleased,” he said.
Litchfield’s current tax rate is $12.10. Byron said the 1.7 percent increase, or $22,424, likely wouldn’t result in a tax rate increase by itself. Come August when the town’s new valuation numbers are in, he predicted the town’s value would have grown enough to absorb that cost.
Less certain is the impact of the RSU 4 school budget. It was projected to increase the town’s tax rate by 99 cents, but it’s unclear if lawmakers in Augusta will pass a state budget that increases money to schools and buffer that.
For the last two years, selectmen have tapped into the town’s reserves to keep the tax rate down, using $100,000 each year. That reserve account now has about $1 million available, Byron said. Selectmen will talk with residents about whether to tap into that again.
He favors an increase of 30 to 40 cents. Thirty cents on the tax rate would add $45 to the property tax bill on a $150,000 home.
“You ought to modestly increase your tax rate each year so you don’t overreach into your fund balance,” Byron said. “If you raid all of your rainy-day funds, then you strap yourself for the next couple years out. It’ll be up to the voters upon the recommendation of the board at Saturday’s meeting.”
Town meeting is set for 10 a.m. at the Sportmen’s Club. On the warrant:
* An $11,000 increase in administration, to $247,555, that includes a 2 percent pay increase for front office staff.
* $29,111 for ambulance services. The contract with Gardiner Ambulance is $12,507. The balance, $16,604, is for this year’s unpaid ambulance fees.
“When folks are picked up in our town and they’re billed and they don’t pay, then we pick up the uncollectibles,” Byron said.
* $30,000 in special project funds to reroof the town office and Old Town House Museum.
* A flat $125,000 paving budget earmarked the coming year for 3.2 miles of Huntington Hill Road and 1.6 miles of Buker Road and 510 feet of Dead River Road.
* $400 for Web tech help that covers a $300 stipend to Deb Campbell, plus office supplies. Byron said Campbell, who’s also the new editor of The Litchfield Sodalite newsletter, will keep the town’s website up to date.
Voters will also be asked to support the new Comprehensive Plan, which has been in the works for two years. Byron said the effort has been led by co-chairs Beth Ashcroft and Pat Sirois. Towns and cities need to keep plans current to keep eligible for state funds. A copy of the plan is available for reading at the Town Office.
kskelton@sunjournal.com
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