NORWAY – Townspeople coming to vote on the budget and operations for the next year on Monday will have plenty of choices at the town meeting.
For the first time, every article where applicable will have the selectmen, budget committee and department requests for funds.
“Last year a citizen raised the question, ‘Why don’t we put all departmental requests in?’ So we’re doing it this year,” said Town Manager David Holt. “I don’t know if it matters much. If anybody wanted to know they could ask. I guess it’s good for the shy people who don’t want to ask.”
Holt said to expect taxes to increase about 9.5 percent if all articles pass.
Holt’s recommended budget reflects a 7.71 percent increase, which would take the local tax share up $311,642 to $4,353,438 million.
Selectmen recommended a 9.51 percent increase and the Budget Committee recommended a 9.53 percent hike, both making the local share about $4.42 million.
The school tax, which was approved June 10, is $2,511,884. The county tax bill is $198,527.
One of the larger increases in the budget is employee benefits, which Holt recommends increasing $49,880 to $263,700. Selectmen and the Budget Committee favor increasing the account by $71,180.
“Health insurance is the biggest issue we have had to worry about this year,” Holt said. “For the single payer, the town of Norway, for the first time will offer employees an increase in pay or a 60 percent payment of dependent health care.”
He said employees were going to get a 2.5 percent raise.
Solid waste costs are also jumping this year going from $265,535 to $306,415 – an amount approved by Holt, selectmen and the budget committee.
Holt emphasized the importance of attending the town meeting. However, he expects only 100 of the roughly 4,700 residents of Norway to show up.
“I can’t make people come to the meeting,” Holt said. “They have to want to. The town meeting is something to be appreciated, cherished.”
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
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