LIVERMORE FALLS – For the first time Tuesday, voters will decide the annual municipal spending in the voting booth in a referendum at the town office. The proposed budget for fiscal 2008 is $2.5 million.

The ballots require either a yes or no vote on the articles. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 12.

Selectmen and Budget Committee members recommend a yes vote on all articles. They worked together to develop the budget and compromised in a couple of areas.

There is a sample of the ballot on the town’s Web site at www.livermorefallsmaine.org or in the town report.

Changes in funding requests for some municipal accounts may reflect changes in accounting practices, rather than budget increases or decreases. Postal, phone and insurance expenses have been removed from individual budgets, and are now included in accounts that combine like expenses.

Salaried administration costs are broken out in departments, and wages of union workers appear on a separate line. So, for example, if an item shows a zero in the current budget, and a large increase in the proposed budget, it may be a reflection of accounting changes rather than a big increase in the funding request.

Voters also will be asked to decide if they want to change the town clerk/treasurer’s position from an elected position to an appointed position. If approved, the change would go into effect in fiscal 2009.

Under the proposed town budget, there would be no change in level of service, more funding for paving and funding for capital improvement including $50,000 to start a capital reserve.

The spending plan also includes $2,500 to replace half of the Christmas decorations, $3,500 to have the highway garage roof painted with a special paint, $5,000 to put with the more than $7,000 raised through fundraising to repair the town’s tower clock, $23,000 for a police cruiser, and $5,500 for fire station renovations.

Additionally, voters will consider directing ordinance fees to the code officer/Planning Board account, rather than the general revenue account as is the current practice.

Voters also will be asked in an opinion poll if they favor referendum-style voting for next year’s town meeting.