WOODSTOCK – Town Manager Vern Maxfield expects one more meeting is needed to ready a 2007 budget proposal for March town meeting voters.

“I think we’ll be looking at a minimal increase this year, but of course we won’t know the school or county budget figures until later in the spring.” he said. “We hope, however, those bodies will try hard to hold a tight line on spending for the coming year.

“We are looking at a major increase, which will be the prime reason for an increase in our budget, as the Region 9 Vocational District is building an addition to its facilities in Rumford. As a result we are going to be assessed $49,000 this first year and $90,000 for each of the next three years,” he added.

Region 9, based in Rumford, provides vocational education for SAD 44 students.

Maxfield also said the town’s fire department is requesting an extra $5,000 to cover a dry fire hydrant project in south Woodstock. The department’s complete budget will be finalized in early February.

In other business Maxfield told the board that the 2006 audit is complete and everything is in order.

Assessors O’Donnell Associates of Auburn is going to be charging the town for upgrades and maintenance on computer software used in the annual property assessing program.

“This is something O’Donnell’s has never done before but feel they need to do now,” said Maxfield, “I don’t have a final figure on the cost at this time but I don’t expect it will be much.”

Maxfield also told the board he received the town’s bill for the code enforcement officer and licensed plumbing inspector shared with the towns of Greenwood and Newry. The bill is for $11,000.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the meeting room at the town office in Bryant Pond.

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