Sabattus residents will vote Thursday night on whether to put the former Sabattus Primary School, which closed last year, up for sale.

The Sabattus Community Center Project is hoping the building at 36 No Name Pond Road will go up for sale and the Select Board will allow it to buy the building. In that scenario, no tax dollars would be expected to maintain the building.

There is no designated community space in Sabattus, outside the community room at the town hall, Megan Peacock, one of the organizers for the project, said.

Peacock said she hopes it will be a space to host local programs, such as baby playtime groups, homeschool co-ops and senior citizen groups. She also sees it as a place for people can enjoy outdoor recreation activities, from walking to playing on the sports fields.

The group hopes to operate it through a nonprofit overseen by a board of directors, Peacock said. Initial startup costs would come from donations, grants and other sources. Once it is operational, fees could help sustain it.

No funds have been raised yet but the group is working on a pledge drive, she said. They don’t want to accept donations unless they know they will get the building.

So far, many residents have supported the plans but they’re working on getting support from the Select Board, Peacock said.

Town Manager Raquel Welch did not respond to Sun Journal questions before publication.

The question on the warrant, if approved, would allow the Select Board to sell the building “through such methods and on such terms and conditions as it deems to be in the best interest of the town…” it reads. The Select Board and Budget Committee recommend it pass.

Even if the item does not pass, members of the Sabattus Community Center Project hope the town will allow it to lease the space, Peacock said.

As for the town budget in the warrant, the Select Board is recommending roughly $4.9 million come from property taxes, which is 6.9% higher than the $4.6 million raised last year.

The Budget Committee is recommending $4.7 million come from property taxes, which is 5.3% more than raised last year.

The annual town meeting is Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Oak Hill Middle School, 40 Ball Park Road.