OTISFIELD – Voters will be asked to elect town officials and approve a $1.3 million budget Saturday at the annual town meeting.

It begins at 9 a.m. in the Otisfield Community School on Powhattan Road with the election of a selectman, chairman of the Board of Selectman, road commissioner and Oxford Hills School District director. Selectman Lenny Alder’s term expire this year. He has indicated he will run again.

“We’re projecting our mill rate will stay the same,” said Selectman Rick Micklon of the effect the new budget, if approved, will have on tax rates.

The total budget requested is $1,353,903, he said. Of that amount, voters will be asked to approve $270,660 for the general government account, including $50,500 for officers’ salaries, $86,500 for administration, and $60,000 for municipal grounds and buildings. The is also $124,700 for employee benefits, including $54,400 for health insurance.

In other action, voters will be asked to raise $141,065 for public safety departments, including $69,017 for the Fire Department, $43,00 for code enforcement and $9,500 for cemeteries.

A total of $550,500 is being requested for the Public Works Department, including $210,000 for the care of winter roads, $110,00 for the care of summer roads and $120,00 for tarring and resurfacing roads.

The Planning Board has requested $11,250, largely for the recreation committee’s use.

A total of $34,280 is being requested for contractual services such as $11,500 for assessing and $5,000 for software licensing.

Health and Social welfare agencies have also requested a total of $5,863. The agencies include Tri County Mental Health, REACH, Responsible Pet Care, the Progress Center, Bolsters Mills and Casco libraries and the Otisfield Community School library.

Although some towns did not give money to the agencies this year because of financial constraints, Micklon said the Finance Committee tried to give some money to everyone who requested it this year, but asked for justification for the agency’s request.

“We tried to give everyone something who asked for something,” he said.

Selectmen and the Finance Committee are also recommending $25,00 for the Capital Improvement Reserve Account.

Voters will also be asked to approve $132,000 for solid waste expenses, $8,550 for lake preservation efforts, $40,035 for debt and interest on a firetruck and $5,000 to repair and maintain the Robinson mill dam, which is now owned by the town of Oxford.

Selectmen toured the dam recently, which Oxford took over for nonpayment of taxes. The dam controls the flow of water out of Thompson Lake, which lies in Oxford, Otisfield, Poland and Casco. The latter two towns are being asked to contribute $5,000 along with Oxford’s contribution of $10,000 toward the dam’s repair.

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