DIXFIELD – Voters attending Saturday’s town meeting face a 23-article warrant that seeks to raise $1.7 million for the 2004-05 municipal budget.
Selectmen pared budget requests of $1,798,922 to a recommended $1,766,791. The Finance Committee came in a little higher at $1,774,316.
But, despite the cuts, the selectmen’s figure represents an increase of $166,379 over last year’s budget of $1,600,412; the committee’s figure is up $173,904.
The two groups differed on budgets for the Police Department, Ludden Memorial Library, grounds, and social services.
Of the requested $188,120 budget for police, selectmen recommend raising $174,620; the committee, $179,620. The difference came under personnel services.
Administrative costs figured into the difference between the two groups on the library budget. Selectmen recommend raising $75,593 of the requested $77,093; the committee, $75,093.
The requested grounds budget of $40,285 is up $7,585 over last year. The committee went with the requested amount; selectmen favored $39,885, cutting from administrative costs and utilities.
Of this year’s requested $25,073 for social services, selectmen and the committee recommend $10,242 and $12,867, respectively.
Differences came in requested amounts for Androscoggin Home Health, the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Oxford County ARC, and Community Concepts.
Additionally, both municipal groups recommended no funding for seven organizations.
Both also recommended raising $230,835 for regional expenses; differences being, raising only $500 of the River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s requested $2,000, and $400 less than the Western Valley Access Channel’s $1,400 request.
New items include:
• Article 21, which seeks to raise or appropriate $30,525 to update the town’s comprehensive plan;
• Article 22, which seeks to raise or appropriate $4,000 for a new GIS mapping system and rugged laptop computer; and
• Article 23, which seeks approval to conduct future voting on all warrant articles, including the election of officers, annual budget and special articles by Australian or secret ballot process. Special town meetings would be exempt.
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