Cup O’ Joe: Use your voice for budget talks

The public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the 2012 municipal budget for the town of Houlton Thursday evening when the town council holds a public hearing on its $9.04 million spending plan.
    The 2012 budget shows fiscal conservatism on the part of councilors, as it holds the spending line fairly close to last year’s level. And while keeping the town’s budget stable is a positive first step, that is not to say that tax bills for locals will remain unchanged.
Houlton’s municipal budget accounts for only a portion of the overall tax impact. SAD 29 and the Aroostook County budget play a significant factor in determining how much residents pay in property taxes. Those budgets will not be set for some time.
Councilors have discussed a number of hot topics with this year’s budget. One particular item that has generated the most discussion and scrutiny is the town’s plans to take over management of the rest area on the North Road.
Back in June, councilors voted to move forward with discussions with the state’s Board of Tourism to take over the rest area property located near the Interstate 95 southbound ramp. The council was advised by MDOT in 2009 that it was looking to turn ownership of the property over to the town, or risk the state closing the rest area.
At that time, Town Manager Doug Hazlett estimated the cost of maintaining the rest area to be between $6,000 to $8,000 per year. However, that figure has grown dramatically to $62,000 per year for maintenance and staffing. The town currently has the deed to the property and is responsible for maintaining the facility as long as the Maine Bureau of Tourism remains on site. If the bureau ever closes, the town would then have the option of purchasing the land at fair market value. The property is currently assessed at $763,500, but retail value of the property could be considerably higher.
Some councilors have expressed displeasure over the costs of running the rest area, while others feel that having the building closed would have a negative impact on the area.
Chances are, though, that the location would not be on the market for very long due to the fact that it’s an attractive parcel of land located in a business zone. Why not let the property be developed for commercial purposes? In the southern part of the state, many major restaurant chains have opened near Walmart locations. Who’s to say the same couldn’t happen here?
Another item that may generate some discussion at Thursday’s meeting is a request for $1,500 from the group Vital Pathways. Houlton’s budget committee initially OK’d the expense, but the council removed that stipend during its last meeting.
Supporters of the group are expected to state their case for putting that money back into the budget during the public hearing. Vital Pathways is a group of volunteers who came together with a common goal of creating a healthier community and has brought over $1 million in grant money to the area, according to group officials.
Any taxpayer that has a question or a worry should attend Thursday’s hearing and make those concerns known. We all have a say in how our tax dollars are spent, but it’s hard for councilors to hear those issues if we don’t speak out.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@ nepublish.com or 532-2281.