LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen met Wednesday night to discuss changes in the town’s finances that may lead to nearly a full mill decrease in property taxes, even though the budget is expected to go up.
Town Manager Martin Puckett explained at town meeting on June 14 that residents will be asked to approve an approximately $2,216,000 budget, up by 2.2 percent from nearly $2,168,000 since last year. But, due to decreasing assessments and increases in state revenue sharing, “we are looking for a decrease in the actual mill rate for the year.”
The tax rate is $24.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation now, but, “We do expect it to go down” by at least $1 if changes are accepted by townspeople, Puckett said.
Town revenues are expected to increase by about $150,000, Puckett said.
The 2006 budget “represents a huge step toward fiscal responsibility,” he added. In the past, “We have not been funding our capital improvement” accounts well enough, and town infrastructure has suffered. This year, selectmen hope residents will vote to “adequately fund capital improvements.” To do this, Puckett said, selectmen hope residents will vote to change two town services: the waste transfer station and the dispatch service.
The town has plans to enter into an agreement with Jay’s transfer station, Puckett said. Under the plan, “our facility will no longer be open – residents will have to take their solid waste to Jay,” but the move is expected to save taxpayers nearly $60,000.
For dispatch, Puckett said, selectmen hope to contract with Androscoggin County and Jay for a savings of nearly $160,000.
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