With SAD 61 school district’s budget of $24 million approved last week, voters in Naples, Casco and Sebago now have their own town budgets to deal with at their annual town meetings.
All three towns felt the loss in state subsidy ($260,000) for local education this year that led to a 2 percent rise in each town’s share in SAD 61’s education expenses, averaging $100,000 more for each community.
Naples
At town meeting on June 24, Naples residents will be asked to approve a $2.9 million town budget for fiscal year 2006-2007. While town expenditures are down $126,000, an increase in the town’s share of local education costs (by $150,000) and county taxes (by $13,000) will put 10 cents on the mil rate, an increase of $0.10 per thousand of property value for taxpayers.
With the town’s salt sand shed now complete, the capital reserve budget dropped from $512,000 to $323,000 – a reduction of $189,000 – while roads and highway maintenance rose by $11,000. New equipment purchases, energy costs and salaries drove the Fire Department budget up $32,000 and the Rescue Department budgeted increased $12,000.
Town meeting will be held on the night of June 24 at the Songo Locks Elementary School on Songo School Road.
Casco
At town meeting on June 14, Casco voters will be asked to approve a town budget of $2.51 million for fiscal year 2006-2007. This is an increase of $127,000 and, coupled with education expenses, taxpayers will see 50 cents per thousand of property vaulation added to their property taxes, said Town Manager David Morton.
Voters at town meeting will also be asked to approve an “open space plan” to direct how and where the town plans to preserve open space in Casco. If approved, Casco would double its contribution to “open space” from $30,000 to $60,000 the upcoming fiscal year.
Parks and Recreation Department also saw a rise of $18,000 for putting recreation programs back in place, such as mountain biking and seniors programs and trips.
The town also continues to ramp up its capital investment plan, $145,000 this upcoming fiscal year, with additional money included for highway roads, street culverts and road improvements.
Town meeting will be held on the night of June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Casco Fire Station on Route 121.
Sebago
At annual town meeting on June 3, Sebago resident will be asked to approve a $1.7 million town budget for fiscal year 2006-2007. This reflects a rise of $65,000 more than this fiscal year. But despite the increase in town expenses, taxpayers should see no change in their property taxes, said Town Manager David Hague.
The only major department increase is $32,000 to hire a new public works employee.
Sebago continues to heavily fund its capital improvement plan, now in its third year, at $358,000. In previous years, capital improvement money has been used to purchase an ambulance, fire truck, a dump truck, two new plow trucks and maintain town roads. The town hopes to put a new roof on the town hall with money from the capital budget this year.
At town meeting, voters will also be asked to approve $82,000 for a new salt/sand shed.
Town meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the Sebago Town Hall gym on Route 107.
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