NORWAY — Voters will be asked to approve a $4.7 million municipal budget when annual town meeting gets underway on Monday, June 20, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Forum.

Norway Town Manager David Holt presented a $4.7 million budget for 2016-17 on Thursday, April 7, that includes $40,000 to set aside for a future town garage but none for a future fire station in North Norway. Last year voters approved setting aside $20,000 for a future fire substation, but selectmen said this year there were more pressing financial needs.

The spending plan is $157,124 more than this fiscal year.

Voters will also be asked to approve $724,905 for the Police Department; $274,553 for the Fire Department; $983,444 for Highways and Public Works; $282,000 for the town’s share of the operating cost of Norway/Paris Solid Waste Inc.; $277,460 for the Norway Memorial Library and $137,782 for Parks and Recreation.

Voters will be asked to approve a Capital Budget, as recommended by selectmen and Budget Committee that includes $15,000 for in-town street improvement; $325,000 for road improvement; $10,000 for GIS mapping; $50,000 for the Truck/Plow Gear Replacement Reserve Account; $50,000 for the Highway Equipment Reserve Account (to fund the eventuall replacement of the grader, loaders, sweeper and trackless). 

Voters will also be asked to approve a Capital Budget that includes $25,000 for the Bridge Repair Reserve; $20,000 for improvements to the Municipal Building safe and $20,000 to set aside for creating more room for the Police Department in the future.

A total of $35,000 is being requested for the reserve fund for eventual purchase of fire trucks and equipment. The amount will be added to the $40,000 appropriated at last year’s annual town meeting.

In other action, voters will also be asked to authorize the selectmen to appoint a Budget Committee to serve one year without pay. Currently the 12-person committee is appointed in April to develop that year’s municipal budget. Then the committee is disbanded.

The request was made last month by members of the Budget Committee as a way to get ahead of financial planning.

The 37-article warrant also includes the Tuesday, June 14 annual town election of town officers and a referendum question to approve a 180-day renewable moratorium that will ban construction, renovation or change of use on property within four designated rural villages in North Norway.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net

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