DIXFIELD — Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said the anticipated loss of state revenue, higher county taxes and a larger subsidy to Med-Care Ambulance Service will make it tough to develop a budget for 2010-11.
Skibitsky said he isn’t certain whether the Maine Municipal Association’s report that the town will lose $79,000 during the current fiscal year means the entire amount will be cut during this one year, or spread over two years. He said the town was promised $386,606 from revenue sharing during the current fiscal year. The MMA report suggests that figure will be reduced to $307,663.
“This is a shifting from state (tax) to local property taxes,” Skibitsky said, echoing a similar sentiment expressed by Mexico Town Manager John Madigan last week. Mexico is anticipating losing more than $100,000 in state revenue sharing.
Skibitsky has scheduled a special meeting with department heads Jan. 2 to discuss how to save money from now until the end of the fiscal year June 30, and how to sustain municipal services with less money in fiscal year 2010-11.
“I don’t see any job eliminations at this time,” he said.
The current municipal budget is $1.9 million and the tax rate is $16.25 per $1,000 valuation.
The Board of Selectmen will begin discussing the 2010-11 municipal budget in March and have it ready for a vote at the annual town meeting in late May.
Skibitsky said meetings will likely be held in addition to the regular second and fourth Mondays of each month for the board.
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