POLAND — The proposed budget for fiscal year 2020 is 6.4 percent higher than this year’s budget, town officials said this week.

They said the preliminary $5.05 million municipal budget, combined with the town’s share of the Regional School Unit 16 assessment, could increase the property tax rate by $1.61, from $14.98 per $1,000 of valuation to $16.59.

Budget discussions will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Fire/Rescue Department and are open to the public. The 69-page budget proposal is available on the town’s website, Town Manager Matt Garside said.

The spending plan will cover the fiscal year July 1, 1919, to June 30, 2020. Voters will act on it at town meeting in April.

In other business, Garside said the Marijuana Committee is close to finishing its ordinances.

“The committee has so far developed proposed rules for medical marijuana retail stores, cultivation, manufacturing and testing,” together with rules for adult-use marijuana retail stores and cultivation, he said. A licensing procedure and manufacturing/testing for the adult use are yet to be written.

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Garside said he met with Planning Board Vice Chairman James Porter about proposed changes in the Land Use Code concerning marijuana. Garside said selectpersons should be able to view the proposed ordinances at a meeting Thursday, Jan. 3.

Selectmen unanimously voted down a consent agreement with Andre Laliberte, who wanted to build on Lot 6 of the Bakerton Heights subdivision. Laliberte asked the town to construct an emergency vehicle turnaround on the town road.

Garside told selectmen the town would have to rebuild the entire road to meet Land Use Code requirements.

“It would be a fairly expensive proposition to the town,” Garside said.


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