WATERFORD – Residents will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 6, to vote on the town’s 2004 budget. The town meeting will take place at the Waterford Municipal Building.

The proposed budget for the year comes to $2,299,283. Of that, slightly more than $1 million is municipal appropriations, almost $1.2 million goes to SAD 17 and the remainder is county tax. The town’s income from property taxes and other sources comes to more than $2.3 million, leaving the town with a surplus of more than $32,000.

Items of interest to be decided by voters include:

• The appropriation of $130,000 for the use and maintenance of the transfer station. This is $40,000 more than the town spent on the transfer station last year. Selectmen Chairman Charles Fillebrown Jr. said, “Our transfer station and policies are in for drastic changes in the upcoming year. We hope all our citizens accept these changes and help us to obtain a safe, hopefully cheaper and non-polluting transfer station.”

• $36,000 for a sports center at the town-owned sand lot. Last year $20,000 worth of equipment and operator time was donated to the project, in addition to cash donations and $7500 in tax money. Committee Chairman Tom Murch said, “Overwhelming support from the community has been the driving force behind this effort.” This year, the committee hopes to install perimeter and backstop fencing, an in-ground irrigation system, a well, and electric hookup.

• $6,000 toward hiring a part-time professional librarian for the Waterford Library. Andrea Burns, president of the Library Board of Trustees, said “This appointment would help the trustees meet the Maine Minimum Public Library Standards and the standards of other town libraries.” The library is currently staffed by volunteers. Two consultants have advised the addition of a professional librarian.

Polls will be open at the municipal building from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 5, for the election of the following town officers: selectman, for a three-year term, and SAD 17 director, also for a three-year term.