CHESTERVILLE — Voters at a special town meeting Thursday will decide on payment options for equipment purchases, raising $5,000 for office supplies and modifications, reallocating money for a town event and overriding the state’s tax levy limit.

The meeting is set at 5 p.m. June 1, prior to the 6 p.m. selectmen meeting at the Town Office.

Voters will be asked to reappropriate the $1,000 raised and appropriated for the North Chesterville Extension Homemakers to the Recreation Committee. The money will be used for a townwide event. Because it’s not a Homemakers project, that organization cannot accept the money, town officials were advised.

Another article will ask voters to raise $5,000 for additional office supplies and modifications. The money is for internet technology upgrades, a separate server for the town’s computers, a firewall to complete the changeover to have Androscoggin Bank’s services, security cameras and a new water heater at the Town Office.

Voters in March approved $50,000 for Public Works equipment purchases, with $25,000 of it raised and the rest financed. Voters will be given two options: raise and appropriate the $25,000 from taxes or take it from surplus.

Treasurer Erin Norton said previously that if voters raise the money through taxes, the full amount will be used to determine the tax commitment, even if the equipment costs less.

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“If taken from surplus, only the amount used will be pulled,” Norton said previously.

Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Tiffany Estabrook said if extra money was raised, it could be put in a reserve account for the department. It applies only to property taxes used for municipal operations such as road maintenance, libraries, parks and recreation.

A secret ballot is required for the vote. No action was taken in March because the town was $5,000 below the tax limit.

“Overriding LD 1 will resolve the issue without having to recalculate everything,” Norton said.


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