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Staff report Sunday, March 4, 2007

Voters at Saturday's town meeting slashed funding for the ambulance service and dam repair and gave a big boost to road projects.

In the end, they approved a municipal budget of $855,905, or $34,513 more than the 2006 budget, Town Manager Larry Post said.

Much of the discussion focused on reserve accounts -- money saved toward future projects, said Selectman Curt Lombard.

Post said the town can again afford to save money for projects because of the state's increased funding for education.

Resident Brian Hanson suggested the extra state funding should be used to reduce property taxes rather than save for projects.

"What you're saying is all that planning to reduce property taxes is irrelevant," Hanson said.

There was a motion to increase funding toward a future fire hall from $10,000 to $25,000, Lombard said. Other residents wanted to eliminate the budget item. In the end, voters approved the original $10,000.

Voters eliminated a $25,000 reserve for future dam repair because town officials have not developed long-term plans for the town-owned dams, Lombard said. Voters also decided not to add $15,000 to a fund for a new ambulance and slashed the budget to operate the ambulance by $13,000.

The budgets were cut because the future of the ambulance service is uncertain, Lombard said. Town officials plan to discuss the possibility of contracting with Sebasticook Valley Hospital for ambulance service.

In Friday's elections, Philip Russell defeated Daniel Hanson, 228-131, to succeed Perley Martin on the Board of Selectmen.