LIVERMORE FALLS — Although Verso’s Androscoggin Mill is in Jay, its impact on Livermore Falls businesses and residents is considerable.

In the wake of recent mill layoffs, the Livermore Falls selectmen and Budget Committee are trying to come up with a budget that limits tax increases.

“Our neighbors to the north are cutting their budget,” said Budget Committee member George Cummings, referring to Jay. “If Verso goes out, our school budget is going to jump and we won’t be able to afford to pay taxes in this town. We’ve got to do something.”

Road Foreman Bill Nichols presented a road budget that was similar to last year’s figures. He admitted that having fuel prices so low would save the town money.

However, Nichols also pointed out that the town will need to replace many of its storm drains in the near future, a considerable expense.

“I’ve looked at every possible thing we can cut out of our budget,” he said. “We’ve been bare bones since Wausau closed.”

The Wausau Paper Mill, part of which was in Jay and part in Livermore Falls, closed in 2009.

Selectmen approved a motion 4-0 to offer two mobile homes in a park on Fayette Road to the mobile home park owner at no cost. Both homes, which are vacant, had their taxes abated.

They also discussed what to do about an empty, abandoned trailer on a Route 17 property owned by Grace Judd. The trailer sits on a very small lot, according to Tax Collector Dawn Young.

Young said that Judd’s son, an abutter to the trailer property, had said he was interested in buying it. Selectmen approved a motion 4-0 to sell the property to Judd’s son for $1,274.71, an amount equal to the unpaid taxes.

bmatulaitis@sunmediagroup.net

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