LIVERMORE — By consensus, Selectpersons on Tuesday, Jan. 2, agreed to bring a budget addition of $5,000 to the Budget Committee to support a summer recreation program children from town attend.

Livermore Falls and Jay approached Livermore about the program, which is held at the Area Youth Sports Building, 25 Cedar Street in Livermore Falls, Selectperson Scott Richmond noted. Livermore Falls funded most of the program last year, budgeting $38,000 towards it, he said. There were 33 children from Livermore who attended last year, he stated.

Last year Jay contributed $13,000 towards the program, according to information provided. Livermore has not contributed funds for the program in the past.

Livermore Falls and Jay officials are trying to put numbers together for the program this year, wanted to know if Livermore Selectpersons would consider putting money in the town’s upcoming budget towards it, Richmond said. Attempts to fund the program so parents wouldn’t have to pay anything to send their children were put on hold for this year, may be considered next year, he noted.

Parents will probably pay about $50 for the first child this year, $30 for second and third children, Richmond stated.

Livermore Falls and Jay are seeking $8,637 towards the program with those two towns contributing roughly $17,200 each, Administrative Assistant Carrie Judd stated. Last year Livermore Falls had 75 children participate, Jay had 79, she noted. Children from those towns paid about $48 to attend while those from Livermore paid $78, she said.

“That doesn’t cover what the cost actually is,” Richmond said. “If we don’t give them any money towards [the program] it is going to be about $230 per [Livermore] kid.”

“I think it is a great program,” Selectperson Joshua Perkins, said, noting one of his children attended last year. “I was surprised at how cheap it was, that [Livermore doesn’t] contribute. $230 is still cheap, but it is a lot for somebody to come up with if they don’t have it.”

Richmond wasn’t sure if the Budget Committee would support adding money to the budget taxpayers will consider at the annual town meeting by referendum on April 23. He was in favor of putting it on the ballot and letting taxpayers decide.

“That is what I am thinking,” Perkins said. “It is something good for the kids, keeps them off Brettuns Pond. They get two meals, which is good. Even at $78 it was super affordable.”

“It is a good place for them to go, have some structure,” Judd stated. The program is daily from about 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., lasts six weeks, she said.

“On a normal day they are doing activities in the field, utilizing the basketball court, cafeteria, gym,” Perkins said. “They do big trips to the movies or Fun Town or whatever. That costs a little bit extra.”

“More than likely, the 33 kids that went last year, if their parents had to come up with more money some wouldn’t be able to,” Richmond noted. More children might participate in the program if it didn’t end so early in the day, he said.

“I am not a huge fan of telling people they have got to pay for other kids to go do something, but I would say if we put it on the ballot (taxpayers) can decide if they want to spend money on kids,” Selectperson Brett Deyling said.

“If we don’t vote to put it on the ballot, Jay and Livermore Falls would have to make their budgets higher to compensate for it,” Judd said.

“Another good thing about the program is it gives some of our older kids summer jobs,” Perkins said. “There is like 20 high school kids working every day with our kids.”

Chair Mark Chretien said he was willing to put $5,000 in the budget for the program.

“That would raise the cost [per child] a little bit, but it’s not out of sight,” Deyling said. “It would cover more than half of it, so people would have to pay $90 or something for six weeks of their kid going somewhere.”

Richmond was in favor of the $5,000 amount.

Selectperson Jeremy Emerson supported $8,637, as did Perkins.

“It’s not really that much more,” Perkins said. “If we only put $5,000 and it makes it higher for the kids that want to go, then they might not take advantage of it and we might just be giving away the money for nothing. I would like to see it on the ballot, one way or the other.”

It has to go to the Budget Committee, the intent will be for the Budget Committee to support the amount recommended by the Select Board, Richmond said.

“They need to know what we are willing to put up,” Chretien stated. The budget is going to go up as a backhoe is needed, the Budget Committee may support $5,000, he added.

“I think $5,000 is reasonable,” Deyling said. “That means people can decide if they want to support kids or not. I don’t want to force people to put money into other peoples’ kids, This is a compromise. We will put it on the warrant.”

Richmond asked Judd to email Jay and Livermore Falls Town Managers with the decision that evening.

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