$50,000 was put into a reserve account for the future purchase of the pumper.
JAY – Voters approved 37 of 38 articles Tuesday, passing a more than $16 million school and municipal budget for 2004-05. Only 624 of about 3,700 registered voters turned out to cast ballots.

The only article rejected, by a 362 to 240 vote, was authorizing selectmen to enter into an agreement to buy and finance a firetruck.

The pumper truck would cost $389,094 and the Fire Department has $138,909 in reserve. Voters did approve putting another $50,000 away in reserve for the truck.

The nearly $11 million school spending package was approved, which reflected an increase of $687,943 or 6.7 percent over the existing budget.

Of that amount, $10.6 million is proposed to operate the education program, a 4 percent or $420,480 increase over the existing budget. The remainder of the money was for short- and long-term reserves.

Voters approved spending $125,000 to establish a reserve for installation of an elevator at Jay High School by a 392 to 222 vote.

Also established by voters, in a 338 to 273 vote, was a short-term reserve of $61,263 for several items, including roof repair, van replacement, asbestos abatement and a furnace.

A long-term reserve was for $10,000 to replace the high school boiler was approved 436 to 165.

The majority of the $5.58 million municipal spending proposal passed overwhelmingly.

The town budget reflected a $166,812 or 2.98 percent increase.

Townspeople adopted a development plan of the Androscoggin Valley Region Pine Tree Zone, which includes the vacant Ames building and nearby property and a site on Route 4 in North Jay that borders Wilton. That was approved 402 to 182.

Voters also agreed, 456 to 145, to buy about 30 acres of land adjacent to the North Jay Sewer Treatment Plant on Jerry Street. The cost of the property is $10,000 and is already in a Sewer Department reserve account.

Voters approved $10,000 for a Veterans Memorial Fund to update the Chisholm Square memorial to honor veterans of all wars and public safety personnel.

Townspeople also voted to continue to publish the salaries of town and school employees in the annual report in a 438 to 182 vote.
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