MECHANIC FALLS – Voters at the annual town meeting Tuesday opted for the Budget Committee’s recommendations and an estimated 2.85 percent increase in the mill rate rather than a less expensive proposal by the Town Council.

The current mill rate of 26.2 will rise to an estimated 29.05, according to Town Manager Dana Lee. Much of the increase is in spending for education. The council recommended a budget that called for an $86,550 increase over last year’s spending or a .9-mill tax increase on the municipal side. The Budget Committee’s recommendations called for an estimated 1.25-mill hike. The difference is the structure of the $640,000 in debt service for the $840,000 renovation project at the municipal building. The voters preferred the Budget Committee recommendation to pay more on the debt the first year and less over the life of the bond while the council wanted the debt service spread out evenly.

Lee explained that several variables could alter the final mill rate including valuations.

Eighty-five people voted on the 58-article warrant in less than two hours. Lee said the turnout was lighter than it has been in recent years. He said between 130 and 140 voters participated in the last two annual meetings.

At the beginning of the meeting, Lee asked voters to support the spending increases. “We have rarely asked for new tax dollars and I would appreciate your support,” he said.

The proposed purchase of the Union 29 superintendent’s office at 24 Elm St. was approved. The purchase from Great Northern Recycling with necessary renovations will cost $250,000. The purchase will be made as a condominium with land included. An affirmative vote in Mechanic Falls was necessary to finalize approval of the purchase. All three towns in Union 29 must approve an interlocal agreement. The other two towns, Minot and Poland, have already voted to enter into the agreement. The towns, not Union 29, will be the owners.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Wall explained to voters that the recommended budget for education, which called for an increase of 4.31 percent, or $178,882, was largely for tuition for Mechanic Falls students attending Poland Regional High School. “As we prepared the budget request it was estimated that the tuition rate will increase by 4 percent,” Wall said.

A total of $185,298 was cut from the education budget. Of that, $66,054 was in teacher salaries. Two teaching positions and one education technician at Elm Street School were cut from the budget.

An article calling for an appropriation of $1,489,233 from the town’s state-local allocation for education and other revenues for elementary education was approved after considerable debate and an unsuccessful attempt to amend it. At issue were the unresolved contract negotiations. Some people felt that it shouldn’t be voted on without a contract. Teachers at Elm Street School have worked without a collective bargaining contract since August 2002.