EDDINGTON, Maine — The proposed municipal budget is increasing with more money put into maintaining the roads, protection and restarting a reserve account to pay for items such as fire trucks and computers, Town Manager Russell Smith said Sunday.
The budget hearing on the draft municipal budget is 6 p.m. Monday at the town office, and the annual town meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Eddington Elementary School.
Last year’s budget was for 17 months to move from a March annual town meeting to one in June, and the budget line was $1,419,218. Selectmen are proposing a 12-month town budget of $1,195,110 for fiscal year 2014-15, which is an increase of $157,542, Smith said.
“If the budget passes as written the [property tax] rate for Eddington will be $14.20, which is an increase of $1.10,” the town manager said.
The cost for roads, including winter maintenance and regular maintenance, is increasing by $83,400; fire protection is projected to increase by about $17,000 and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office coverage is going up about $2,250.
In addition to the regular operating budget, selectmen are suggesting putting $51,000 aside in a reserve account for capital improvements, the town manager said. The account, which can be tapped for equipment such as computers, fire trucks and municipal hall improvements, has been dormant for a decade in an effort to keep taxes low, the town manager explained.
“Selectmen put back in money for the capital improvement account, which we haven’t really funded for years, 10 years,” Smith said.
This year’s town meeting warrant also includes spending up to $350,000 on a replacement tanker truck for the fire department to replace one from 1981, and is reflected as a $20,000 budget line in the proposed capital improvement account.
During local elections last week, selectmen incumbent Joan Brooks earned another 3-year term on the board with 154 votes, but newcomer Mike Shepherd, who tallied 188 votes, ousted longtime board member Donn Goodwin, who took in 134 votes. Resident Mark Carreira also earned 147 votes in the close selectman’s race.
There was one seat on SAD 63 board up for grabs, but no one ran for the vacancy.
“We had a write in, Rachel Grass,” Smith said, “She got 10 votes [to earn a spot on the board].”