SABATTUS — In the midst of a public dispute between the Fire Department and the town manager, Sabattus will hold its annual meeting Wednesday.
Voters will be asked to weigh in on 40 articles, covering everything from police, fire and public works to computers and road improvements.
“As with every budget,” Town Manager Timothy Kane wrote in his report, “there are a few tough decisions that will need to be made this year.”
The total amount of the proposed budget was not made available Friday. Increases were expected across the board.
“As inflationary costs continue to spiral upward, several individual departmental budget requests were increased this year,” Kane wrote in his report. “These requests are to cover the costs of supplies and materials needed to serve our town.”
Voters will be asked to decide whether they want to allot $359,730 to fund the Fire Department, a figure that is up slightly from last year’s $315, 860. Another $17,250 is being requested for the Emergency First Responder Program.
The town is also being asked for $877,596 to fund Public Works, a significant jump from the $621,575 approved for fiscal year 2023. The increase is said to be in part due to the rising cost of paving materials. Additional funds are being requested to pay for a one-ton truck at $70,000 and an excavator for $110,500.
Meanwhile, voters will be asked to approve $660,936 for the Police Department, a small jump from last year’s $630,519 police budget. The town is also being asked to use $120,000 in undesignated funds to pay for three new police cruisers and another $48,000 to equip the vehicles.
The meeting will be held at a time of turmoil for town leadership. A fire official last week circulated a ‘no confidence’ petition targeting Kane. The document, prepared by firefighter and lifelong Sabattus resident Austin Gayton, is part of a 100-page packet outlining various complaints about Kane’s handling of town business. It is signed by more than 100 people.
The town plans to hire an independent investigator to look into the matter.
The annual meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Oak Hill Middle School at 40 Ball Park Road. The annual report can be found at sabattus.org.
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