RUMFORD – If residents pass all 38 articles at Monday’s town meeting, they will raise just over $6.2 million to run the town, and $368,000 for social service agencies and special projects.

The annual event begins at 7 p.m. in Muskie Auditorium of Mountain Valley High School.

They will also consider a land gift to the Polar Bear Snowmobile Club and a plan to have the town take over maintenance of the East Rumford Cemetery.

Town Manager Robert Welch said the $6.2 million proposed 2003-04 municipal budget is about $46,000 less than the budget adopted for the current year and the special project/social service agency requests are nearly $39,000 less than the current figure.

Proposed for the greatest increases are the Rumford Police Department, which is seeking $43,000 more, which would bring the budget to $819,519; and the Rumford Fire Department, which is seeking a $34,000 increase, which would bring the figure to nearly $865,000. Training costs for both departments are the major reason for the increases.

Also slated for increases are costs for disposing of solid waste, the town’s share for Med-Care Ambulance Service, insurance premiums and a virtually across the board 25-cent-an-hour wage hike for employees.

Offsetting these increases are:

• $40,000 less for costs associated with acquiring and razing unsafe buildings.

• About $12,000 less for the treasurer and town clerks office.

• $19,000 reduction in maintenance for the Municipal Building.

Although several agencies requested more funds this year, such as the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, most remained flat or requested a decrease.

“Anytime you can come in less than the previous year, it’s a good budget,” said Welch.

Residents will also decide whether to allow town officials to sell for $1 a town-owned, two-acre parcel located along Route 2 near the public boat ramp. The Polar Bear Snowmobile Club wants the property so it can build a clubhouse and storage space for the club’s groomer.

Town officials agreed to give the land to the group because of the positive economic impact snowmobiling has on the region, said Welch.

If voters agree to allow the town to take over maintenance of the East Rumford Cemetery, located near Abbott Farm Plaza, the cemetery will be the sixth one maintained by the town. A total of 14 cemeteries are located in Rumford.

Welch said the town does much of the old cemeteries’ maintenance now and costs for taking it over entirely will be negligible.

The municipal and special request budgets are a part of the overall tax liability for the town. Also to be paid by taxation is the town’s share of the Oxford County tax, which went up slightly to $534,000 for the upcoming fiscal year, and Rumford’s share of the SAD 43 budget, expected to be about $6.8 million for 2003-04, down nearly a $500,000 from the current budget share.

The mill rate, currently at $19.68, will be set in late summer following the annual property assessment.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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