Washburn voters OK $1.9 million budget
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
WASHBURN — Town officials met with residents during the annual town meeting, held March 19 at the Washburn District High School, where voters approved the municipal budget of just over $1 million. With county taxes of $69,535 and an estimated figure of $650,000 for SAD 45, the community’s 2013 budget is anticipated to be just over $1.9 million.
As for the mil rate, the 2012 figure of 26.5 — or $26.50 per $1,000 of valuation — could go up or down, depending on decisions in Augusta. Among the issues of concern is what, if any, funds the town will receive from revenue sharing. The school and state budget decisions could affect Washburn’s final budget figure, but totals on those won’t be known until mid-year.
This year’s turnout was considerably smaller than last year, with about a dozen residents present to vote. Also present were: Bev Turner, town manager; Lisa Mette, town clerk; Troy Heald, fire chief; Roy Guidry Jr., interim police chief; Town Councilors Daren Churchill, Mike Umphrey, Keith Brown and Fred Thomas; Katherine Veitschegger, librarian; Marcie Barbarula, recreation director; Harold Easler, highway foreman; and Adam Doody, code enforcement officer/plumbing inspector. Fred Flewelling served as moderator for the meeting.
Turner said the final 2013 budget won’t be determined for several months.
“We don’t know what the state’s budget will be. That happens in June/July like the school. It could mean a hit of about $170,000 to the town, if revenue sharing is cut,” said Turner.
She said the mil rate could remain the same, regardless of what state or school figures come in at.
“By passing the budget tonight doesn’t mean the mil rate will go up. We could cut something, raise the mil rate or do nothing — just wait and see,” she said.
The topic garnering the most discussion from the handful of residents who were in attendance involved disposal of trash. Earlier this year voters in Washburn opted out of the Pay-As-You-Throw program, with residents choosing to either pay a hauler or take their own garbage to the dump.
“We used to pay Presque Isle, who in turn paid the hauler. That stopped in January, leaving us without a contract with any specific hauler. We’ve had an obligation on good faith (with Gil’s Sanitation) but never had a contract. Through PAYT, (Gil’s) were paid for every household, even though some people paid other haulers or hauled their own,” said Turner. “If you approve a figure to cover the expense, we’re still negotiating with Gil’s, so the figure could be less.”
“This is just a budget number. It just means we can’t go over that amount,” noted Brown.
A motion was made and approved to not pay until council had an opportunity to pursue reconciliation. Voters approved up to $17,783 be paid to Gil’s Sanitation to cover curbside collection fees for January and February.
All articles were approved as they appeared in the annual report. Copies of the report are available at the Washburn Town Office.
