NORWAY — Voters at Monday evening’s annual town meeting approved $4.7 million in spending, which includes increases at most town departments for the next fiscal year

Townspeople approved every recommendation from selectmen and the Budget Committee, including $983,444 for highways and Public Works; $724,905 for the Police Department; $471,065 for administration; $274,553 for the Fire Department; and $137,782 for Parks and Recreation. 

The budget is $157,124 higher than the spending plan for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. According to Town Manager David Holt, residents can expect a 3 percent to 4 percent increase in property taxes. 

A change in the way the warrant was written restricted voters from amending articles to request more money — only decreases could be proposed. The change, which Holt said selectmen adopted at the bequest of Budget Committee members, did not sit well with some residents.

“Why are we here if everything’s decided by the Budget Committee?” Patricia Shearman asked. “When did we give up all of our power?”

Afterward, another resident suggested the change was “shady.”

Holt said the practice of residents increasing funding to certain causes from the floor at town meeting presented elected officials with a conundrum: On one hand, it was healthy democracy; yet on the other, the actions of 50 residents reverberated to affect 5,000. 

“No one wants taxes to go up,” Holt said. “The only means is to put limits on ourselves. The price of things isn’t going down.” 

Police Department increases cover officer training and the addition of an officer at the elementary school; 90 percent of the position’s cost is covered by a federal grant.

Increases for the Fire Department will cover replacing outdated equipment and rising health insurance and salaries. A new half-time position between the Parks and Recreation and Highway departments for mowing and plowing snow will also be added. 

Residents set aside $20,000 of $282,000 slated for the Norway/Paris Solid Waste Inc. into a reserve account to pay for capping wells in response to Paris voters approving $262,000 for the operation of the sewer. According to statute, the towns must fund plant operations at the same level. 

An amendment slashing $20,000 from Norway Memorial Library, which requested $277,460, was defeated.  

The budget includes $325,000 in road improvements, $5,000 in sidewalk repairs and $15,000 for in-town street repairs. While $40,000 would be set aside from the town garage, there is no money due to be set aside for the construction of a fire substation. 

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

Voters also authorized selectmen to appoint a Budget Committee to serve one year without pay, which members requested to start financial planning early. 

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