Budget increases are primarily for negotiated wage and benefit increases.

RANGELEY – A public hearing on proposed spending for municipal and school operations for 2004-05 is set for Monday. Combined the spending proposals equal $5.38 million.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office on School Street.

Town officials propose a $3.17 million spending plan, which reflects an increase of $93,500 from the existing budget. Most of the increase is due to $37,292 more in Franklin County taxes and $45,000 in debt service for the new public safety building.

The town’s share of the county tax this year is $310,000, said Administrative Assistant Karen Olivieri.

School officials are proposing a draft budget of $2.21 million, which is an increase of about $179,635 over the existing budget.

The proposed local property tax would be $1.57 million, which is an increase of about $65,284.

But due to the continued growth in the town’s tax base through new construction, the property tax for education on an individual home would continue to be lower than the education property tax in 2002.

The proposed school budget contains no new positions, Superintendent Ken Coville said.

Increases in the budget are primarily for negotiated wage and benefit increases, he said.

Most of the increases have been offset through trimming in other areas of the budget.

One other significant budget increase, according to Coville, is a new line for short-term debt service.

The School Board is proposing to address several facility renovations through borrowing about $160,000.

The board is proposing to finance this through a five-year note with annual payments of around $36,800.

These renovation projects address issues of health, safety, instruction and accessibility, Coville said.

In addition, the proposal provides for repair and restoration of the gym floor, safety repairs to the gym bleachers and replacement of lockers in the gym locker room for safety reasons.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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