LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters will consider a proposed $2.2 million budget for 2011-12 during the annual town meeting referendum Tuesday.

The polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 14 at the town office. The town office will be closed for regular business on that day.

Residents will have 42 articles related to town government and one related to a proposed $18.4 million budget for 2011-12 for Regional School Unit 73.

Voters will be asked to consider changing the town treasurer/town clerk position from an elected position to an appointed position.

They’ll also consider amending the Planning Board Ordinance adopted in 1999 to have a five-member board with two alternates, instead of a seven-member board.

Voters will also decide if they want to enact an ordinance to protect the Moosehill Pond watershed. The pond is the Livermore Falls Water District’s main source of public drinking water.

The selectmen’s budget proposal reflects a $35,459 increase over the current budget while the Budget Committee’s proposal represents a decrease of $377,421.

The Budget Committee is recommending a $1.8 million budget that would eliminate both police and public works services. The committee’s intent would be to have the town contract for those services.

In April, selectmen voted 4-1, with Selectman Alphonso Barker opposed, to recommend a Police Department budget of $384,096 which does not include benefits. The Budget Committee is recommending a $400,000, which includes contracting it out to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department, deputy benefits, fuel and repairs.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee disagree with each other’s proposal.

The select board voted in January to keep the police force intact and not contract for services.

Selectmen are also recommending a $91,105 Fire Department budget to voters. It represents a $3,400 increase over the current budget. The Budget Committee’s recommendation is for $65,555, a decrease of $25,550.

Both the selectmen and Budget Committee are recommending $55,000 be put into capital improvements.

However, the recommendations differ.

Selectmen propose $30,000 for a police cruiser because a 2004 model has a bad frame and won’t pass inspection. They also put in $25,000 for a Fire Department pickup truck and $25,000 for town building repairs.

The Budget Committee proposes $15,000 for a cruiser — if voters decide to contract for police service, the town still needs to provide cruisers; $10,000 for capital improvements for the Fire Department; $10,000 for town building repairs; and $20,000 to put a roof over the compactors at the transfer station.

Voters will also consider allowing the town to seek financing of up to $85,000 to buy a backhoe for the Highway Department. The first payment would not be due until July 2012 and is not included in the proposed budget.

NOTE: This article has been modified since it initial publishing to reflect the correct amount of the proposed Police Department budget.

dperry@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link