POLAND – Two contentious articles intended to slow the town’s rampant growth could dwarf concern over a proposed tax increase at the annual town meeting on Saturday.
Two articles from a petition with 199 signatures seek to check residential growth by resurrecting a 1978 ordinance, placing a 180-day moratorium on subdivisions, and another to slow non-subdivision residential growth.
The language in the petition sought to restore the 26-year-old moratorium as it was written in 1978, but Town Attorney Bryan Dench advised the selectmen to change the time period from one year to 180 days to conform to a current state statute.
If voters approve the restrictions, selectmen could extend the 180-day limit to one year.
Selectmen have recommended that voters reject both articles.
No major tax increase is slated for Poland, but property owners could pay a little more next year if the voters approve all spending articles. The mill rate could increase from $19 per $1,000 of valuation to $19.50.
The municipal budget for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, is $3,971,291 and the school budget is $12,515,474.
The proposed fiscal year 2006 municipal budget is $4,038,646. Of that, $3,562,759 would come from taxes. The proposed school budget is $12,855,076 with $5,501,449 coming from tax revenues.
“A possible mitigating factor would be if there is more valuation than what was established a month ago,” Town Manager Richard Chick said.
“The budget is up a little. The increase is driven by a lack of revenue as opposed to sharply increased expenses,” he said.
Estimated non-property-tax revenues would total $1,360,860. “It’s not enough to take out the increase,” Chick said. “Excise tax has been slowing.”
Expected revenue a year ago was $1,448,098.
Voters will also consider a proposed family member conflict-of-interest ordinance which would prohibit more than one member of a family from holding elective office. That proposal drew comments at a recent public hearing and at a selectmen’s meeting April 5.
School Committee member Ira “Ike” Levine has voiced opposition to the article. Levine and his wife both serve on the committee. On April 5, Ira Levine called the proposal a personal attack and accused the selectmen of targeting him.
Voters will consider the purchase of a rescue vehicle at a cost of $380,000. The selectmen opted for the rescue vehicle in place of a ladder truck for the Fire Department. The cost of a ladder truck would be about $800,000, according to Chick. The town manager explained that the Fire Department recently decommissioned an aging ladder truck and no plan was made to replace it because of Poland’s participation in mutual aid for fire and rescue services with Mechanic Falls, Minot, Casco, Raymond, Oxford, New Gloucester and other towns.
The warrant will also contain articles addressing proposed changes to the comprehensive land use ordinance and two zoning map changes.
“I think everything on the warrant is pretty straightforward,” Chick said, but “I think there will be questions on the heavy rescue vehicle because it’s a pretty big number.”
The annual town meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday 30 in the auditorium at Poland Regional High School.
Registered voters may cast ballots for one position on the Board of Selectmen and two on the School Committee from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the town hall.
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