The five towns relying on the Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station will see a 6.73 percent decrease in the station’s budget in 2016.
The Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station Council, made up of the combined Nobleboro and Jefferson Boards of Selectmen, voted unanimously to approve a 2016 budget of $485,565, a decrease of $30,347 from 2015.
Surplus will be used to fund $65,000 of the budget, leaving $420,565 to be raised by the supporting towns.
Transfer Station Agent and Nobleboro Selectman Dick Spear said the station’s bottom line looks good and the majority of the station’s revenues were up in 2015.
“We took in a lot more money on most everything,” Spear said. “The only thing that was down is metal because the price of metal is really down right now.”
He also said a $30,216 increase in the station’s revenues compared to 2014 can be attributed to a decrease in overall tonnage the transfer station received, a number which fell by a total of 749 tons.
Jointly owned by Jefferson and Nobleboro, the transfer station is located on Center Street in Nobleboro and also serves residents from the towns of Bremen, Damariscotta, and Newcastle.
Each year the member towns contribute a percentage of the transfer station’s annual budget through a formula, which takes into consideration each town’s population, in addition to ownership of the site.
As approved by the board, Bremen will be assessed 10.5 percent of the proposed budget for 2016, $44,160, a decrease of $3,186; Damariscotta will pay 28.9 percent, $121,543, down $8,771; and Newcastle 19.8 percent, $99,253, down $7,162 from 2015.
Jefferson will pay 22.4 percent, $94,207, a decrease of $6,797; and Nobleboro 18.6 percent, $61,401, a decrease of $4,431.
The figures will now go to each of the member towns’ annual meetings for final approval.
Robin Mayer, chair of the Damariscotta Board of Selectmen, was the only representative from Bremen, Damariscotta, or Newcastle to attend the meeting.
Transfer Station Manager Barry Howell said he was encouraged by residents’ efforts to recycle, but he thinks more recycling can always occur at the transfer station.
“We are constantly trying to think of ways to make it easier for people to recycle,” Howell said.
Spear was complimentary of the work Howell and Assistant Manager Brandon Achorn have done for the communities.
“Barry and Brandon have that place looking immaculate and we are very proud of it,” Spear said.
Before the adjournment of the budget meeting, the transfer station council elected Spear as station agent, Jigger Clark as council chairman, Greg Johnston as vice chairman, and Al Lewis as secretary.
