Orient voters approve municipal budget

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TOWN MEETING — Dot Carlucci, right, of Orient gets some assistance with reading the Orient town report from her niece Pat during the Aug. 28 town meeting. About 30 registered voters passed the 2012-13 municipal budget in the amount of $250,951.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    ORIENT — Voters in Orient approved a municipal budget of $250,951 Aug. 28 with little fanfare.
    The tax rate will not be set until the end of September, said Town Clerk Alicia Silkey. Last year’s tax rate was 12.10 mills. Silkey did not expect the current budget to result in a mill rate increase.
    On Tuesday, Silkey said the County tax figure for 2012 was $40,948 and the school budget figure was $147,499, resulting in a total spending plan of $439,398. When factoring in revenue sharing and other sources of income, the total amount to be raised by taxpayers will be $394,112.
    Approximately 30 registered voters participated in the Aug. 28 town meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours and was held outside the town hall. There are 112 registered voters in the town. There are also numerous “non-resident” taxpayers of the community. A “non-resident” is any person who owns property in Orient, but is a registered voter in a town other than Orient.
    By law, non-registered voters may speak at a town meeting, but only if a motion by a registered voter is made and seconded. That vote must then pass by a two-thirds majority. Non-residents are not allowed to vote on the warrant articles.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
RAISE YOUR HAND — Louise Beaulieu, right, raises her hand along with other Orient voters during the Aug. 28 town meeting.
    At Tuesday’s meeting, a motion to allow non-residents to speak failed to garner the two-thirds majority. Fifteen voted in favor, while 12 opposed. About 12 non-residents were in attendance for the meeting.
    Louise Beaulieu served as moderator. Many of the warrant articles passed unanimously, but some garnered discussion.
    An article to allow the town to take up to $15,000 from undesignated funds to meet unexpected expenses or emergencies passed by a vote of 15-8. A similar article, which allowed selectmen to take out a loan in anticipation of taxes passed 23-1. According to Silkey, occasionally the town needs to borrow funds to cover expenses if residents do not pay their tax bills in a timely manner.
    The following individuals were elected to positions in the town.
    • Selectmen (3-year term) — Pamela Bourgeois, 45 votes; Mary Beth Foley, 29.
    • Selectmen (1-year term) — Ed Vose, 42 votes; Richard Knight, 35.
    • School board (3-year term) — Dale Foley, 59 votes (unopposed).
    • School board (2-year term) — Barbara Sharpe, 65 votes (unopposed).
    • School board (1-year term) — Emily Putnam, 44 votes; Richard Rhoda, 21 votes; and Annette Downey, 11 votes.
    The town is also looking for individuals to serve on its 2013-14 budget committee and is looking for both full- and part-time residents to serve. Those interested in serving on the committee should contact town office at 448-7729.