MEXICO — Residents will not only vote on a proposed RSU 10 operating budget when they go to the polls on Tuesday, but will also act on 11 money articles that were defeated at the annual referendum town meeting in June.
If all articles are approved, the town will operate on a $2.9 million municipal budget, which is about $5,800 less than FY 2012-13, Town Manager John Madigan said.
Voters defeated all money articles in June except those for solid waste and insurance.
Madigan said, if any of the 11 articles are voted down on July 30, residents will not have a third chance to determine a total municipal budget because town ordinance restricts voting to twice per warrant article.
He said this is so that the town can set the tax rate in August and send out tax bills soon after to provide cash flow for town operations.
The current tax rate of $25 per $1,000 valuation is expected to be maintained under the $2.9 million municipal budget, as well as the town’s share of Oxford County and RSU 10 taxes. Both the county tax and the school tax have declined from last year, by about $1,800 for the county and nearly $58,000 for the schools.
Madigan said if any of the 11 articles are again defeated, the town will use the amount approved for 2012-13 for that article.
“There is no fluff in the government budget,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “We document everything. This is what it costs to provide services for the town.” He added that both the selectmen and a majority of the Budget Committee approved the figures sent for a vote.
Residents will act on the following articles:
* Town administration, $354,821
* Recreation, $114,974
* Public safety, $889,030
* Health and welfare, $98,349
* Social services, $2,250
* Public works, $744,899
* Library, $66,271
* Debt service, $348,215
* Unclassified, miscellaneous, $69,847
* Transportation to Holy Savior School, $250
* Authorization to trade in a pumper and a ladder truck from the fire department for the purchase of a 2002 Cyclone Custom Pumper and to appropriate up to $100,000 for the purchase.
Voting takes place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Calvin Lyons Town Hall.
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