LIVERMORE FALLS – If Maine voters approve the 1 percent tax cap proposed by Carol Palesky, it would have devastating effects on the town, Manager Alan Gove said.

Displaying a comparison at Monday night’s meeting, Gove showed that now the town raises about $4.4 million in taxes with about 44 percent for the schools, 46 percent for the town and 10 percent for the county and tax increment financing district.

That translates into about $1.8 million for SAD 36, $2 million for the town and $175,000 for county tax with $350,000 returned to the Otis Mill in a TIF.

With the tax cap in place, the town could raise only about 40 percent of what it does now, about $1.8 million, all of which would have to go to the schools since the district has to be paid first.

That would leave nothing for the county, TIF or town expenses such as police, fire, dispatch, library, highway or town government, Gove said.

He added that there would be an impact on the schools, also, as they would be unable to transport students in the winter as no roads would be plowed.

The tax cap petition has been certified, Gove noted, but he was unsure if it would be on the June or November ballot.

The governor’s proposed tax legislation doesn’t paint a much better picture for the town as personal property provides about 35 percent of the town’s tax base.

Supposedly the state will reimburse 50 percent of the lost revenue but the other 50 percent will have to come from homeowners and small businesses, Gove said.

Selectmen agreed to take the discontinuance of two roads to town meeting for vote. A piece on Route 17, estimated to be about 33 feet wide and 300 feet long, would go back to the abutters and no objections were raised.

The other, which is actually a driveway into the former Pease Farm near the Leeds town line, brought objections from owner Gerard Castonguay who maintained the town was obligated to plow it even though there is only one house on it and he is the sole owner of property on both sides of the road.

Dick Fournier asked that speed limit signs and trucks entering signs be placed on Strickland Loop where Stevenson’s is hauling gravel.

Selectmen agreed to place the trucks entering signs but said they were powerless to do anything about the speed as that is state regulated.