PERU – The Finance Committee on Monday night unanimously recommended that articles to change the town’s fiscal year and borrow money for roads not go on the ballot in November. Instead, members voted that the issues be on the annual town meeting warrant in March 2007.

Selectmen proposed the items, and it was unclear if they will ignore the committee’s recommendation.

The first article calls for changing the fiscal year from the calendar to July 1 to June 30, effective 2008. The second article calls for borrowing for capital improvements to town roads.

Committee member Jim Pulsifer gave each member his written comments on the articles. He said changing the fiscal year will mean the town won’t know its financial condition at the time of town meeting. He contends a charter should be written to set in place the type of local government the town wants.

Selectman Bill Hine said the board needs to know the school budget before it can realistically work on the town budget.

Town Clerk and Treasurer Vera Parent said if all the bills are paid, the town will have $500,000 in surplus on Dec. 31. However from January to June she will have six school payments of $101,600 to make and this would consume the surplus, and the town would have nothing in reserve.

Finance Committee members Ed Parent and Peter Heath said not enough planning had gone into the issue of changing the fiscal year.

“You really have to get your ducks in a row first and have a written plan,” Parent said.

“If we choose to go ahead with the November vote, do we need to come back to the Finance Committee?” Hine asked.

“If you go ahead, it is without our recommendation,” Chairman Tim Holland said.

The roads discussion centered around the difference in cost between having contractors and town workers do the work or an engineer drafting a plan.

Selectman Dennis Thibodeau said, “We can’t even take care of the culverts on East Shore Road with our crew. We’ve waited too long on all our town roads to get them in shape. I think we should borrow to get them all done, but it will never fly.”

Ed Parent said he had been advocating for 10 years at town meetings that the town should be putting money away for capital road improvements, and he’s received no support.

The Finance Committee said it needed to see a plan for road work because there are many that need attention.

Hine said the board had such a list.

Mike Arsenault said he wanted more information before he voted on any issue.

Hine said the board was committed to public hearings.