Voters up the ante
Mexico will raise more money for services and reward early taxpayers.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

MEXICO – Townspeople offered amendment after amendment Monday night at their annual town meeting, raising almost $30,000 more than proposed and knocking 2 percent off every tax bill paid early.

Selectmen had proposed a municipal budget of about $1.5 million, down nearly $100,000 from last year. But many residents were concerned that taking away the call force pay for the fire chief would have an adverse effect on public safety. They also wanted a spring cleanup next year.

The social service agencies who petitioned to be put on the warrant got what they asked for, and so, too, did the snowmobile club.

During budget deliberations, selectmen removed the call force pay for Fire Chief Gary Wentzell. At the town meeting, voters went along with an amendment to the public safety line that added $10,000 to the proposed $432,629. Although raising the extra money has no guarantee that it will go to the fire department, the board generally follows the wishes of residents at town meetings, Town Manager Joseph Derouche said.

The board will act on the extra funding at its meeting Wednesday.

Wentzell said money appropriated for the firefighter call force has been exceeded for several years because of the higher number of calls the department receives. He had received a $5,000 stipend for serving as chief, which includes duties related to conducting training and taking care of paperwork, along with the going rate of $9 per hour for responding to emergency calls. Selectmen had removed the call force amount when trying to reduce the municipal budget.

They also removed the biannual spring cleanup, estimated to cost about $8,000.

Townspeople put it back in the budget.

Several people tried to remove or reduce the $5,000 request by the Mexico Trailblazers Snowmobile Club. Several amendments were offered, but following a 20-minute discussion, the club got what it wanted.

Selectmen had originally left the item off the warrant. A petition drive got it back on.

It was the same with several thousands of dollars that had been requested by about a dozen social service agencies. Eight of them circulated petitions to get their money requests, totaling $4,900, on the town meeting warrant.

“Everybody in the town takes advantage of at least one of these agencies,” said Barrett. “If you can spend $8,000 to pick up garbage, you can spend $4,900 for these agencies.”

A majority of voters also agreed to turn the $1 processing fee given to the town from the state for issuing all terrain vehicle registrations to the River Valley Riders ATV Club. Last year, more than 200 registered in Mexico.

The mill rate for Mexico taxpayers won’t be known until the SAD 43 budget is approved and the property valuation tallied. This year’s rate was $30.80 per $1,000 valuation.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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