DIXFIELD – There will be no change in the town’s tax rate of $29 per $1,000 valuation. That was realized after Thursday night’s 2-hour town meeting.
“We are only $4,000 over what selectmen recommended,” selectmen’s Chairman Tony Carter said. The new property tax levy is $1.93 million, which is under the $1.95 million state limit for Dixfield.
Less than 100 voters OK’d a budget of $3.38 million, then topped the amount recommended by selectmen and the Finance Committee by taking $125,000 from surplus to buy down the tax rate.
Selectmen had recommended using $25,000 less; the committee, $15,000 less.
A majority also stood behind their Police Department, dismissing recommendations by selectmen and the committee and giving Chief Richard A. Pickett what he asked for, $202,897.
Pickett’s initial request of $214,121 had been pared to $198,916 by the committee, and, to $187,566 by selectmen.
A lengthy discussion followed a motion to go with the selectmen’s recommendation. That got amended to the committee’s figure, which, was also shot down. That’s when Pickett motioned for $202,897.
At issue was money needed for training and a sergeant’s position.
Resident Cindy Coulombe said she’s on a fixed income and finds it hard to pay taxes, but wants to be “safe here, and I want my grandchildren to be safe here, and I want the police officers trained.”
Others accused selectmen of singling out the Police Department for cuts, but Selectman Eugene Skibitsky said the board didn’t discriminate.
“We didn’t just willy-nilly pick on the chief,” he said.
In other business, a majority dismissed a proposed curfew ordinance, but OK’d a parking ordinance.
“I thought (the meeting) went well,” Town Manager Jeff Jacobson said. Newly hired in January, it was his first town meeting.
“A lot of good questions were asked. I hope people understood what we plan to do with their tax dollars,” he added.
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