LIVERMORE FALLS — Residents will have a chance Monday to ask questions about a proposed $2.3 million municipal budget proposed for 2012-13.

Selectmen will hold a public hearing on the warrant articles to go to referendum vote at the annual town meeting Tuesday, June 12. Two proposed ordinances will also be up for review.

The hearing on the 48-article warrant is at 6 p.m. April 30 at the Town Office.

The selectmen’s proposed $2.3 million spending package represents an increase of $108,834 over the current $2.19 million budget. The board has recommended $98,600 in capital improvements for culvert, drainage and sidewalk work. It also includes doors for transfer station to secure hazardous waste material, replacing a fuel pump at the highway garage and replacing deteriorating, bottom panels on the bay doors at the garage.

They are also recommending creating a reserve account with $12,960 for the Fire Department to save money to replace self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters.

The Budget Committee proposes a nearly $2.1 million budget that is about $200,000 less in spending. The committee is recommending $83,000 in capital improvements. Members recommend starting a reserve with $8,000 for the Fire Department’s breathing apparatus.

The committee also eliminated money for the transfer station and highway garage doors.

The biggest differences between the two budget recommendations is in the insurances budget.

Selectmen are recommending $357,857 while the Budget Committee suggests $261,609. The nearly $100,000 difference is reflected under health insurance for employees. The Budget Committee proposes the town pay only employees’ health insurance, committee member Ron Chadwick said Wednesday.

Selectmen propose raising and appropriating $168,381 for administration while the Budget Committee recommends $165,166, with the bulk of the reduction coming from $3,000 less for legal fees.

Selectmen recommend $386,947 for the Police Department. The Budget Committee is recommending $331,307, $55,640 less. That comes from cutting the police chief’s $2,400 expense account in half, eliminating an officer, reducing the uniform allowance, and eliminating wages for a part-time administrative assistant.

The Budget Committee is recommending $82,503 for the Fire Department, which is $8,000 less than the selectmen’s recommendation of $90,503. The budget panel’s lower amount includes cutting $2,000 from wages to bring them to $25,000. It also reduces the fleet maintenance line by $5,000 to $12,000 and cuts fuel and diesel from $5,500 to $4,500.

Selectmen recommend $14,370 for code enforcement while the Budget Committee recommends $13,860.

In the Public Works budget, selectmen are suggesting $337,775 be raised and appropriated. The Budget Committee is recommending spending $12,025 less by cutting wages by $10,000, and reducing uniform allowance and money for street signs.

The Budget Committee is suggesting that grounds care remain the same as this year at $4,900, $200 less than selectmen’s recommendation.

Selectmen recommending spending $8,650 for general assistance. The Budget Committee recommends $1,500 less, which reflects eliminating a stipend for the general assistance director.

There is also a $10,000 difference in recommendations for contingency. Selectmen recommend $15,000, Budget Committee recommends $5,000.

The committee also reduced and eliminated some funding amounts for social service agencies and nonprofit organizations compared to selectmen’s recommendations.

The two ordinances being proposed are one that would exempt eligible, active-duty, military personnel from vehicle excise tax and one that would allow eligible property owners to participate in a low-interest loan, energy-efficient program.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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