JAY — Selectmen will hold a public hearing Monday on a proposed $6.29 million municipal budget for 2011-12 that will go before voters in June.

Residents will also get a chance to discuss the town’s proposed Comprehensive Plan update and recycling and waste disposal ordinance.

The spending package reflects a $110,606.32 increase over the current budget. However, due to a decrease in anticipated revenues, taxpayers would need to raise an estimated $3.97 million for town government compared to $3.44 million that was raised this year. The difference between the net budgets is about $527,951.32.

Most of the revenue decrease is related to changes at the transfer station with Livermore Falls and Wilton opting not to bring items to Jay.

The public hearing on the 47 warrant articles for the Tuesday, June 14, referendum begins at 6 p.m., May 2, at the Jay High School library.

This year the school budget is separate from the town budget because of the consolidation of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls into the RSU 73 school district on July 1.

In the municipal package, there is $450,000 proposed for paving and $279,127.14 to pay off an unfunded liability for Maine State Retirement.

Voters will also be asked in June to consider adopting a updated Comprehensive Plan.

Members of the Comprehensive Planning Update Committee worked for about a year to develop the plan to guide the town over the next 10 years and into the future.

The 133-page document goes over goals, policies and strategies and gives details of the varying sections of the town from forestland to residential.

The town’s current plan was adopted in 1996. According to the committee, it is outdated and needs to be changed to reflect current-day needs.

The new plan reflects the changes that have occurred in Jay and surrounding areas in the last 15 years.

It also includes a compilation of past and current information on the community along with some trends.

It also lists capital investment needs expected over the next 10 years. Those include improving gateways to town, Chisholm Trail improvements, Parker Pond public access, open space/recreation land protection and North Jay Quarry purchase. The proposed 11-page recycling and waste disposal ordinance, if approved, will replace a 33-page document that was adopted in 1993 and amended in 2002.

It addresses types of trash bags to be used, maximum weight allowed in each one, hours that trash is allowed to be set out on the curb, and penalties and enforcement.

The proposal states that trash bags need to be placed at curbside no earlier than 4 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled pickup but must be set out by 7 a.m., the morning of collection. All containers and any material not picked up need to be removed from the curbside by 7 a.m. following the day of collection

The proposal also gives town employees the right to inspect any bag or container to make sure the items are in compliance with the ordinance.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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