By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
ISLAND FALLS — Unhappy with a budget plan that already featured a decrease over the previous year, Island Falls residents further slashed municipal spending during Saturday’s annual town meeting.
The final budget, after cuts by the public, stands at $740,803, which is a decrease of $50,277 from the amount recommended by both the budget committee and board of selectmen, as well as a reduction from last year.
The municipal budget is a decrease of about $66,431 from last year’s budget of $807,234. The full impact to taxes will not be known until the RSU 50 budget is approved in a few months.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TOWN MEETING — Keith MacKenzie poses a question during Saturday’s town meeting in Island Falls.
“The (cuts) made at town meeting will make the most impacts to the town office, recreation department, and the cemeteries along with other budget items,” Town Manager Dave Dionne said. “The town office received the most significant reduction of about 20 percent total from the recommended budget. This will likely affect the office’s ability to operate and provide services at full capacity. I am working to present different scenarios to the board in order meet the reductions made. The board will then decide on how we move forward.”
Ken Colville served as moderator for this year’s town meeting.
Dionne said he was not surprised by the effort to slash the budget even farther.
“I had heard that there would be a small group of citizens who would be attending for that purpose, but my job is not to get involved in the town’s politics,” he said. “I was hired by the select board to help meet the needs of the citizens by managing the town’s operation and to assist in the development of the town economically.
“The board puts the warrant out so that the townspeople can get involved and talk about the issues at hand,” he continued. “It also appeared to me that some people may have been confused by the different motions being given by town citizens. We will do what is necessary to meet the current challenges presented.”
An article that would have granted authority to the town to rent, lease or sell tax-acquired property drew considerable discussion. Some questioned why the town wanted to be in the business of renting property, while others warned of setting a precedent that could leave the town on the hook for any repairs to rental properties.
Residents ultimately approved the article, minus the word “rent.”
Dionne added the selectmen have worked to build up the town’s reserve account in recent years.
“The town’s surplus account should have about three to six months of operating expenses and we made a huge step towards closing that gap last year,” he said. “However, some citizens feel that the town should use these monies to reduce the burden of tax. Looking around town, there are several areas that will need maintenance or repair and this money could be used to help pay for those expenses or capital investments versus paying interest on loans.”
During the general election held earlier in the day, Allen Schenk was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of selectmen with 59 votes. Karen Rockwell received 10 votes, Shea Willigar received five votes, Donald Hallett, two votes; and Toby Lougee and Greg Ryan each received one vote.
For the RSU 50 school board, Greg Ryan was elected to a three-year term with 46 votes. Others receiving votes were, Lougee and Scot Walker, two votes each; and Greg Bates, Paige Colville, Heidi Hollis, Greg Johnson and Cleveland Scofield each received one vote.
