Livermore Falls voters to consider proposed $2.73 million budget, elections

LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters will be asked June 8 to consider a proposed $2.73 million municipal budget and elect two Select Board members and a Regional School Unit 73 director.

The polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Livermore Falls Fire Station. Absentee ballots are available a the Town Office.

The proposed spending package for 2021-22 represents an increase of $82,397, or just over 3%, from the current budget. It does not include the town’s share of the Regional School Unit 73 or Androscoggin County assessments.

Part of the increase is $20,000 in debt service related to the fire substation in East Livermore area. Residents voted 992-399 in November to authorize selectmen to spend up to $400,000 over 20 years to build a one-bay fire substation. The article also authorized selectmen to enter into a lease-purchase or a finance agreement for up to 20 years, with payments from taxes not to exceed $20,000 per year. A committee is still meeting to determine a proposal to bring to selectmen.

The proposed Police Department budget is $633,576, up $17,921. It includes money for possible raises and would bring the base hourly wage for full-time certified reserves officers up about $1 an hour to $19.45 an hour. It is an attempt to try to stay competitive with other departments and to attract more reserve officers. Base pay for part-time certified officers would be $18.45 an hour.

Steward had asked to include $21,000 in the capital improvement budget toward a new cruiser. Selectmen reduced the cruiser budget to $14,000. Instead of buying a cruiser in 2022-23, it will be purchased in 2023-24.

The proposed Public Works budget is $485,255, an increase of about $20,830. It includes $16,550 for a single health insurance plan to go to a family plan. It also includes money for possible raises.

There is also a $15,000 increase in the town’s contingency line because contract negotiations have not been completed, including those for police and the highway department, Town Manager Amanda Allen said previously. It brings the proposed contingency budget to $25,000.

The town administration proposal is a decrease of $14,378. The budget is proposed at $328,493. Most of the reduction is in wages, which are proposed at $86,300, down from $101,653 in the current budget.

Voters also have two contested selectman races.

Incumbent Heather Bronish, Jim Long and Sheila Scanlon are seeking a two-year term on the Board of Selectmen. William Kenniston, incumbent Nixon Ortiz and Josh Tainter will vie for a three-year seat on the board.

Phoebe Pike is unchallenged in her bid for reelection to the Regional School Unit 73 board for three years.

The district serves Livermore Falls, Jay and Livermore.