DALLAS PLANTATION – Despite a significant tax rate increase and a drop in revenue, voters approved all warrant articles at the annual town meeting Friday.

Treasurer George Adams said total spending for fiscal year 2004-05 was $701,321, up from $530,495 in the current year. The primary cause of the increase, he said, is the cost of a new town truck, winter road maintenance, and contract services from the town of Rangeley.

School funding for the plantation’s 39 students also increased $32,084 over the current year.

The projected tax rate is $13.90, compared to $8.10 last year.

In all, 67 of Dallas Plantation’s 226 eligible voters attended the town meeting. They approved borrowing $195,000 for reconstruction of the Saddleback Mountain Road. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,000,000.

Of the 4.6-mile project, 3.6 miles are in Dallas Plantation. The project will be a joint project with Sandy River Plantation, the Maine Department of Transportation and Saddleback Mountain.

The cost sharing is broken down as follows: $500,000 by the Maine Department of Transportation, $250,000 by Saddleback Mountain Corp., $195,000 by Dallas Plantation, and $55,000 by Sandy River Plantation.

Expansion plans at Saddleback Mountain include a new hotel, maintenance facility, sewage disposal system, road construction, and a new tubing park and skating pavilion. Projections show the project bringing as much as $190,000 in additional real estate taxes to Dallas Plantation over the next two years.

Kit Casper and Terrance Morgan were elected to the Budget Committee.

Barry Brackett, Wess Connally and Victor Borko were elected assessors, with Brackett chosen first assessor.

Sheila Waldeck was elected as tax collector. Adams announced his retirement as treasurer after serving 12 consecutive years. Residents elected Pauline Bugler as treasurer, on Adams’ recommendation.

Voters approved the Budget Committee’s recommendation of $290,453 for the local school foundation allocation for the Rangeley Lakes Regional School.

Residents approved the flowing appropriations: Summer roads, $27,892; winter roads, $52,942; contingency fund, $1,604; computer hardware and software account, $3,390; Maine Municipal Association dues, $1,400; plantation insurance policies, $18,885; operation and maintenance of the Town House, $9,434; mapping and assessing, $11,025; contract services from the town of Rangeley, $84,029; and the plantation truck account, $54,934.

In addition, voters approved the Budget Committee’s recommendations for contributions to the following area not-for-profit organizations and events: Rangeley Lakes Logging Museum, $200; Maine Public Broadcasting, $100; Rangeley Public Library, $5,900; Rangeley Region Health Center, $1,500; Rangeley fireworks display, $500; Rangeley Town Park, $250; American Legion, $150; American Red Cross, $250; Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, $225; Rangeley Region Chamber of Commerce, $1,300; Rangeley Region Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association, $150; meals for the elderly, $1,000; Rangeley region health appointment transportation, $4,000; Western Mountain Shrine, $250; Rangeley Snowmobile Club, $2,000; Rangeley Cross Country Ski Trails, $1,500; and the Invasive Plants and Water Quality Protection Program, $1,335.

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