BROWNVILLE, Maine — A draft budget that reflects an increase of nearly 3 percent and exceeds the state-imposed tax levy cap is under review by Brownville selectmen.
Town Manager Sophia Wilson cautioned Friday that the selectmen would review proposed expenditures several more times before a budget is forwarded for action at the annual March 16 town meeting.
Municipal officials typically present a budget within the cap, but this year, because of the loss of revenue, the draft budget exceeds the cap by about $99,000, Wilson said.
“Over the last few years we have pared back departmental budgets, operating budgets, as much as we can and still allow the same level of services,” Wilson said. “At this point, the board’s feeling is that if we were to cut more, we would have to look at cutting services.”
Every budget item is being scrutinized in an effort to cut costs, according to Wilson. Selectmen are looking to increase the town’s deductibles for liability insurance and are looking into the feasibility of changing the streetlights to lower-watt bulbs.
If selectmen seek the town’s approval to exceed the tax levy limit and residents reject the request, then services will be affected, according to Wilson.
“Our objective is not to scare people, it is simply that we’ve cut back in our departments to such a degree,” Wilson said. “We know, from history of talking to our taxpayers, that all services that we provide are very important.”
With that in mind, selectmen are defining a list of services that could be cut to get the town under the tax cap. Those include eliminating a police department shift; reducing the number of days the town office is open; reducing the recreation department’s year to April 1 through Sept. 30; eliminating all streetlights; and changing the town’s policy on winter maintenance to plow and sand less.
Once selectmen have approved a budget later this month, the warrant will be posted in early March.
Wilson said the budget ultimately would be decided by residents at the town meeting.