TOPSHAM — The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing Thursday on the May 16 town meeting draft warrant, which contains 19 articles.
Proposed within the articles is a 2012-13 municipal budget of $8,050,547 — a 1.5 percent, or $123,727, increase over the 2011-22 budget, according to Town Manager Cornell Knight.
Based on the proposed municipal budget, the School Administrative District 75 budget proposal, and the Sagadahoc County budget estimate — and if the town’s valuation doesn’t change — Knight projects a property tax rate increase of about four cents, from $16.15 to $16.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Right now, it looks like the town’s total valuation will hold steady from last year.
The Finance Committee and selectmen have met twice to review the budget and are now in agreement on all budget items, but Knight said a proposal to add two per diem overnight shifts to fire and rescue starting Oct. 1 remains up for debate. Right now, the town has rescue workers on call and if there is a medical call, they go to station and get an ambulance.
Knight said some Highland Green residents requested the per diem positions to ensure that the station is staffed, thereby reducing emergency response times.
The two per diem positions would place a paramedic at the station every day from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and increase the fire and rescue budget by about $67,000.
Article 2 contains the amount of money the town will spent on debt service, which has increased this year by about 4.8 percent because Topsham borrowed to buy a plow truck and ladder truck.
Also, selectmen propose replacing a 1998 pickup truck with a new one, adding $50,000 in reserve for the Bay Park draining issue, and increasing the paving line from $250,000 to $275,000.
An increase in water district rates increased the town’s budget for hydrant rents by about $16,000.
The budget also proposes to eliminate a vacant position in the police department.
Knight anticipates that municipal revenue will be pretty steady, though it is down a small amount. Selectmen propose to take less from surplus and excise tax collection is expected to change little.
Largely because of the population decrease in Topsham reflected by the latest census data, the town will see a drop of about 4 percent in revenue sharing from the state.
Article 8 would amend the town code regarding dog control.
Article 9 seeks to amend zoning language regarding the Historic Overlay District and the Historic District Commission.
Article 10 proposes to replace the town’s sign ordinance with a new, comprehensive ordinance.
Article 11 would amend the subdivision ordinance to allow large lot and open space subdivisions in addition to conventional subdivisions; and include a pre-application procedure for major subdivisions and site inventory and analysis and a compatibility analysis.
Article 13 asks voters to approve a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant application on behalf of Topsham Housing Authority.
Also up for a public hearing Thursday are proposed municipal ordinances regulating sale and use of fireworks, questions that will before voters on a referendum ballot June 12.
Copies of the draft ordinances are available on the town website, www.topshammaine.com, or at the municipal building.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
