KINGFIELD – Selectmen and the budget committee will be looking over the budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
In its current, extremely preliminary state, the budget calls for a 3 percent increase in town employee wages and small increases in the funding for fuel and gasoline.
“We’ve tried to hold the line on a lot of things,” Administrative Assistant Greg Davis said.
Selectmen suggested only general changes and corrections to the budget’s rough draft at their meeting Monday afternoon. The budget committee will get to discuss the proposal on Jan. 13 and Jan. 27. Residents will have the final say on the matter at the March 7 annual town meeting.
In addition to a 3 percent raise, an increase in the fringe benefits has also been recommended. That increase would let employees match 5 percent of their salary with funds from the town, up from 3 percent. Selectman Neal McCurdy said that this coming year may not be the best one in which to increase the magnitude of those benefits.
“I’m not sure this is the time to go from 3 to 5 [percent],” he said.
Other increases include a proposed $1,500 increase to heat the town office, $8,000 for additional fuel funding for the public works department, as well as more money for salt and sand. Davis noted the difficulty in setting a recommended amount for those commodities in the volatile market.
“The fuel costs are just estimates. If you know what it’s going to be next winter,” he said, “all the more power to you.”
The fire department budget has remained almost completely flat, as have the parks and recreation department and animal control budgets. The transfer station budget remains very much up in the air however, as that facility is jointly administered by the towns of Kingfield and New Portland. The transfer station budget meeting will be held on Jan. 20.
Several agencies, including the American Red Cross and Community Concepts, have requested funding this year. The total programs budget requests are up nearly $4,000, not counting a $3,000 request by the local snowmobile club which, if approved, would be funded through the Poland Springs tax increment financing program. Both the Kingfield Days fund and the Kingfield POPS have requested an additional $1,000 through that program.
In addition to considering the transfer station budget on Jan. 20, selectmen will be holding a special town meeting on reducing a bond from the Maine Municipal Bond Bank from $1,040,000 to $610,000. The decrease is due to the subsurface water treatment system coming in at a lower bid than anticipated, and the town getting a much lower interest rate than it had expected.
A special town meeting is required for modifications to bond agreements, even ones clearly in the town’s favor.
Selectmen also approved the construction of a 51-foot handicapped-accessible ramp on the side of the town office, near the playground. This ramp project, required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, will be built be resident and Fire Chief Chuck Twitchell. His concept will cost the town $10,000, far less than other proposals. That ramp will be funded through the sale of the old superintendent’s office building by the town.
Davis also wanted attention brought to an effort by resident Jack McKee to raise money for a Home Heating Fund through recycling. People bringing cans and bottles to the Old Mill Redemption Center can donate the proceeds to the fund at request.
