When Edgecomb voters gather for its annual town meeting May 17, they will consider town a proposed town budget of $3,573,865, which represents a slight 0.28 percent increase over last year’s budget.
Articles 28 through 36 represents a total school of $2,480,215, which comes in just under last year’s budgeted amount and represents 69.4 percent of the town’s total budget.
Articles 9 and 10 asks for a total of $437,904.77 to be taken from the town’s surplus to cover the the shortfall from the assessment errors for the 2012-2013 and the 2013-2014 tax commitments.
The town’s auditor Fred Brewer shared the tax commitment error with the Board of Selectmen in March after discovering the error while working on the FY13 audit. Brewer reported the spending was approved by the voters, but the money was never raised from taxes.
In a phone interview May 13, Edgecomb Town Treasurer Claudia Coffin said the exact amount available from surplus will not be known until the end of the current fiscal year which ends June 30.
This year’s warrant does not include an article proposing taking money from surplus to reduce taxes this year. Last year voters approved taking $130,000 from surplus to reduce the tax commitment.
Selectman will ask voters at the town meeting to appropriate $4,500 for Article 12, which has been left blank on the warrant because the estimates were not available for the tax collecting and billing software at the time the town reports were printed.
Included in the total is $3,700 for TRIO software, $280 for software training, and $440 for the printing and addressing the tax bills.
Again this year, the budget committee is recommending only $2,000 to each of the area libraries. The Wiscasset Public Library is requesting $9,677 and the Boothbay Memorial Library is requesting $4,000 from the town of Edgecomb for the upcoming year
Edgecomb voters amended the library article at last year’s town meeting, approving $4,000 for each library.
Article 16 asks voters to authorize the selectmen to purchase an easement on Cunningham Road, which will allow the town to make adjustments to the property improve the visibility of the intersection of Parsons Mill/Cunningham Road.
The safety issue at this intersection was identified as part of Edgecomb’s Road Improvement Plan.
In November of 2013 selectmen reached an agreement with the landowner, Sherba Ann Sibley, to purchase an easement for $10,000. The article asks for the purchase price plus legal fees and closing coasts. The purchase of the easement will be funded with the road reconstruction and paving loan.
Voter will also consider changes to the Planning Board Ordinance which was originally enacted in 1990. The proposed changes bring the ordinance more in line with state law, Planning Board Chairman Jack French said.
On Friday, May 16 voters will head to the polls to elect town officials. Polls will be open 1-7 p.m. at the Edgecomb Town Hall.
Incumbent Jack Sarmanian is seeking re-election for a three-year term on the board of selectmen. Claudia Coffin, treasurer/town clerk, and Deb Boucher, tax collector, are both seeking election for one year terms.
Casandra Fabiano seeks a three-year term on the school; and Road Commissioner Scott Griffin seeks another one-year term. The planning board has an opening for a three year term with no announced candidates.
Edgecomb’s voters will act on the 51-article town warrant at its annual town meeting set for May 17, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Edgecomb Town Hall.
