KINGFIELD — Voters approved a nearly flat-funded budget of $839,110 for the 2016-17 fiscal year and elected two incumbent selectmen and a school board director at Saturday’s town meeting at Kingfield Elementary School.

The budget was less than one half of one percent over last year’s budget, according to Administrative Assistant Leanna Targett.

Two candidates, Johanna Prince and Peter Manning, vied for the school board vacated by Beth Luce. Of the 110 votes cast, Prince received 62 and Manning received 48. Both incumbent selectmen Heather Moody and Ray Meldrum were re-elected.

Two controversial articles generated discussion.

In 2011, voters approved the formation of a Village Enhancement Committee, which was tasked with developing projects that would benefit the economic growth and viability of the downtown area. With tax-sheltered monies available for 30 years from Nestle’s Waters North America, the committee drafted seven concepts and presented the proposal for a Village Cultural Center to selectmen and the Budget Committee earlier in the year.

Both groups of officials decided to leave the decision to those attending the town meeting. When the two warrant articles, which included a $350,000 construction loan and a $100,000 engineering and planning budget, came before voters on Saturday, the Village Enhancement Committee unexpectedly asked that financial decisions be postponed.

“We would like the opportunity to go back and develop a more substantial plan at a better price,” committee member Donald Tranten said.

The committee wanted to rework the project and the associated costs, he said.

Committee members were aware that voters were interested in improving the downtown, but uncertain about the costs attached to the first proposal.

Resident and business owner John Goldfrank noted that the original 2011 plan was based on the hopes of getting a grant to help pay for costs, but that money has not appeared. Meanwhile, the original plan for the downtown space near Skowhegan Savings Bank and the Schoolhouse Gallery had changed radically, he said.

“The TIF funds have to be spent at some point,” said resident John Witherspoon. “If we don’t come up with projects for usage of this money, I’m concerned this will fall by the wayside.”

Selectmen and Board Chairman Heather Moody suggested the committee had spent many volunteer hours developing cost estimates and a construction schedule. Voters who were not happy with the plan should become more involved at the monthly meetings, she said, rather than waiting for the annual meeting to express their opposition.

Communication between the committee and the townspeople should be improved, she suggested, so that voters had a better understanding of such large capital commitments. Maine Revenue Services reviews how the taxpayers spend the money each year, so any unspent funds cannot go into a general revenue account, she explained.

“These dollars could help offset any future costs if we choose to enhance our sidewalks, off-street parking, or whatever the case may be,” Goldfrank said.

A brief discussion centered around the proposal to spend $3,000 for soil, flowers and 12 large planters that will be placed along Main Street from Tranten’s Family Market to the Western Maine Pharmacy. Susan Davis volunteered to take care of the flowers during the summer months, and Lisa Standish offered to store them in her barn when they were not in use.

Voters approved moving ahead with that project.

In other matters, the Maine Department of Transportation plans to rebuild and repave the Main Street section of Route 27 with an indefinite start date in 2019.

Voters were urged to attend a public meeting with the state engineers at 6 p.m. at Webster Hall on Tuesday, June 28.

The current plans are posted on the town’s website, kingfieldme.org, under the Road Reconstruction section.

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