Bethel voters go to the polls Tuesday and to Town Meeting Wednesday to decide on issues ranging from water fluoridation to capital improvements to funding the Mountain Explorer.
If all money articles are approved at Town Meeting, the estimated mil rate (factoring in the county budget share, expected SAD 44 share, and offsetting revenues) would be 13.92, up from this year’s 12.5, according to Town Manager Christine Landes. The mil rate calculation also includes an estimate for overlay funds, and Landes stressed the mil rate could change when the Board of Assessors does the tax commitment in September.
The total proposed municipal expenditures (town only) would be $3,721,465, if approved, up from last year’s $3,417,978, Landes said.
Tuesday votes
The decision on fluoridating Bethel’s water will be by referendum vote on Tuesday (technically the beginning of Town Meeting), along with the election of town officials. Incumbents Selectman Peter Southam, School Directors Tim Carter and Frank Delduca and Assessor Bob Everett are all running unopposed. Polls at CPS are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday issues
On Wednesday voters will consider a Capital Improvement article of $630,320, up from $487,900 last year.
That includes $150,000 for the purchase of a new rescue pumper truck for the Fire Department, $48,000 for compactors for the Transfer Station (as the town switches over to Zero Sort recycling), $75,000 to rebuild the Smith Farm Bridge and a total of about $325,000 in drainage, sidewalk and road improvements.
Among the other larger money accounts, the Ambulance Service budget is proposed at $241,496 (up from $224,838 last year); Solid Waste Management at $412,099 (up from $354,368, due in part to an increase in cost to haul off solid waste and construction debris); Public Works at $576,868 (up from $539,178, due in part to directional sign purchases, Western Maine Transportation costs and $10,000 proposed to help support the Mountain Explorer bus service); and Employee Benefits at $354,767 (up from $320,195).
To help reduce the property tax commitment, selectmen propose to appropriate $100,000 from the undesignated fund balance for that purpose.
Wednesday’s Town Meeting gathering starts at 7 p.m. at the Crescent Park School.
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