NORWAY – Voters balked at borrowing for a new firetruck but agreed at the annual town meeting Monday to borrow up to $1 million for road improvements.
Approximately 120 people attended the meeting, which began at 7 p.m. in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School forum. As of 9:45 p.m., votes had yet to be cast on 13 of 40 warrant articles.
It was unclear how many cuts in all would be made to the proposed municipal budget of more than $3.6 million.
Voters discussed many articles in detail. A proposal to borrow $305,000 for a new firetruck resulted in lengthy debate. The Board of Selectmen recommended borrowing for the truck, but the Budget Committee did not.
Some Budget Committee members said the town was fiscally “irresponsible” for setting aside only $5,000 a year for a truck in recent years.
Town Manager David Holt argued that paying interest on debt is no worse than waiting to make a purchase despite inflation, but Shelley Cummings of the Budget Committee said she strongly disagreed.
“You can’t control your taxes if you lock in your debt service,” she said, referring to debt payments that would have to be made every year.
Voters rejected the $305,000, but later increased a warrant article in which the Budget Committee recommended setting aside $113,333 for a future truck purchase. That article was amended and the amount was increased to $163,333, so a new truck could be purchased in two years.
In addition, voters approved a warrant article allowing the town to accept up to $330,000 if a grant application for a new firetruck is approved. Holt said the application has been submitted but he does not know when the town will hear back.
When the $1 million for road work was discussed, some voters appeared apprehensive. However, the article was supported by the selectmen and Budget Committee and passed with a strong majority.
Holt and Road Commissioner Ron Springer said the money will be used to hire outside companies for major road projects. Additional warrant articles in the amounts of $554,665, $30,000, $270,000 and $46,000 for the Highway Department were approved and will cover general road maintenance and hiring a new truck driver in October.
Voters overwhelmingly rejected an article for $2,000 to post tax maps and records online.
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