DIXFIELD — Wednesday night hours at Ludden Memorial Library is one casualty of the town’s attempt to shave $77,000 off its municipal budget for this year.

Dixfield is scrambling to find ways to reduce costs as a result of less state revenue sharing in the middle of its fiscal year.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said the town stands to lose $79,000, but he asked his department heads to find $77,000 is savings from the five months remaining in the fiscal year because he built in slightly less than the state had promised when he developed the 2009-10 budget.

All proposed reductions must be acted on by selectmen at their Feb. 8 meeting, he said.

Besides the reduction in hours at the library, about $3,000 in repairs to the building and brick work will be put on hold.
All departments are cutting previously planned supply purchases.

In the Public Works Department, road cracks won’t be sealed, and fewer culverts will be cleaned and roads graveled, for a total savings of $28,000. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program offered by the Dixfield Police Department will be eliminated, along with attendance at conferences and seminars, and the purchase of supplies, for a total of $18,000.

The town office will eliminate almost $17,000 in building repairs, new equipment, painting and carpeting, conferences and seminars, and the contingency fund.

The fire department has cut out nearly $5,800, and grounds, $1,500.

“The overall effect is that putting off these things will eventually catch up to us,” Skibitsky said.

In neighboring Mexico, Town Manager John Madigan said he believes his town has enough carryover, along with funds remaining from school tax credit to cover the $100,000 expected to be cut from revenue sharing. And the town isn’t spending any money that isn’t necessary.

Madigan and the Board of Selectmen will meet Thursday to take a general look at the budget and issues that may arise in preparation for the 2010-11 budget development that will begin in late February and early March.

In Rumford, employees are taking occasional furlough days as part of the town’s attempt to save about $300,000 before the end of the fiscal year.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia said all department heads are working to reduce spending so that $300,000 will be available to put toward the 2010-11 tax commitment.

Towns are receiving fewer funds than originally promised because the state is trying to eliminate a $438 million budget shortfall.

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