KINGFIELD – Residents passed the majority of a 32-article warrant in short order Saturday morning, putting into effect a six-month budget designed to move the town in line with the state and county’s fiscal year.
Having previously approved the switch at a special town meeting, which moves Kingfield from a calendar fiscal year to one beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, residents passed an interim budget of $340,000 in appropriations to cover the town’s expenses until July 1, 2010. The town also approved the appropriation of $91,000 of captured Tax Increment Financing funds, with $36,400 of that being returned to the Poland Spring bottling plant’s owner, Nestle Waters, and the remainder being used for bond payments on the towns new subsurface wastewater system and other economic-related expenditures, such as money for the Kingfield Days event and the Kingfield POPS.
Provoking the most discussion was the care of the town’s cemetery. While both selectmen and residents agreed that lawn mowing and other maintenance at the cemetery had been excellent, both the budget committee and selectmen had raised concerns about the operations of the Cemetery Association. That organization, operating semi-independently from town government, had not been forthcoming with details about their expenses and budget, according to selectmen.
“I think we’ve got to do something with the Cemetery Association to find out how it’s being managed,” Selectman Neal McCurdy said. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
The association had requested $9,500 for care of the cemetery, a modest increase from the $8,700 requested in 2009. Selectmen and residents expressed more concern over the lack of “transparency” at the association, as well as potential liability issues, as workers employed by the association are hired under Kingfield’s tax number, as if they were an employee of the town.
“It sounds like there’s enough confusion on this article to vote it down,” Resident Jack McKee said.
Both board members and some residents were also disappointed that no one representing the cemetery association attended the meeting.
Residents approved an amended article, which authorizes the appropriation of $4,500, at the discretion of the selectmen, for the care of cemeteries. The logic offered was that the funds would allow the cemetery to be maintained until June, especially through Memorial Day, while selectmen requested additional information from the association.
A paper ballot vote, for an article involving the funding of the Stanley Museum, was called for near the end of the proceedings by Moderator Paul Mills, who was in doubt as to the outcome of a vocal vote. Residents approved funding the museum a requested $3,000, rather than the budget committee’s recommended $1,000, by a vote of 24 to 21.
The town voted unanimously to appropriate $200,000 from the Fund Balance, effectively the town’s surplus, to help reduce the 2010 tax commitment. The town had approved a similar, $300,000 appropriation in 2009.
“We’re a little worried about the tax increase from the schools over the next year,” McCurdy said, “with the numbers we’re seeing coming out of Augusta.”
Elections for all applicable offices will be held in June, as only one annual election is allowed by law, barring unusual circumstances.
Why not take the Cemetery Association to court and find out what’s going on? If they are being evasive, I would think the town would be forcing them to reveal their behavior regarding the issue.
I would be very suprised if the Cemetery Board was being evasive. Many of them are older citizens that have served the community for years and probably feel that the Town should be taking over the responsibality of all cemeteries going forward. I would agree that this group should sit down with community leaders and have this discussion. The Kingfield cemetaries have been very well cared for over the past couple of years and hopefully they will continue with the same contractor as they’ve had. Good Job Mike!!!