By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

OTISFIELD – Voters on Saturday will decide whether to raise an estimated $1.2 million in taxes for the first six months of 2006 before the town changes to a July 1-June 30 fiscal year.

Voters have a total of 54 articles to consider at the annual town meeting, scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Otisfield Community School on Powhatan Road.

A second town meeting will be held in June so residents can vote on a budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year. The annual town meeting will be held every June thereafter.

The portion of the six-month budget to be raised in taxes for town expenditures is $624,636 and the SAD 17 portion to be raised is $854,330. A total of $318,336 in revenues and revenue sharing is being applied to the total six-month budget of $1.5 million.

County taxes are not included in the six-month budget because they are not due until October.

Town expenditures last year totaled $1.13 million. School taxes totaled $1.6 million.

Voters also will elect a new member of the Board of Selectmen. Hal Ferguson, a member of the Finance Committee, is running for the seat that will be vacated when Lenny Adler steps down after more than 30 years of service.

Residents also will vote on whether to change several elected positions to appointed ones, including road commissioner, recreation director, town clerk, tax collector and treasurer. The appointed positions would be for indefinite terms that would take effect in July.

The selectmen and Finance Committee are recommending that $6,500 be raised in taxes for a new well for the Spurrs Corner Fire Station. Residents also will vote on several proposed changes to the town’s building ordinances and whether to accept a $3,000 donation from Ken and Polly Bartow for an emergency fuel oil assistance fund.

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