FARMINGTON – County commissioners had a quick review Tuesday of a proposed $841,292 unorganized territory 2006-07 budget.
Both Commissioner Fred Hardy of New Sharon and Chairman Meldon Gilmore of Freeman Plantation decided to wait until representatives from towns that provide services to townships and plantations could be part of the discussion.
Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
The proposed budget is $25,339 more than the existing $815,953 budget, which runs through June 30. The proposal is also $73,000 less than the 2004-05 budget.
The waste disposal account of $101,636 shows an increase of nearly $21,000 over the current budget of $80,647. In summer, commissioners adjusted the amount of money for Rangeley; the $10,000 approved in the budget was increased to $17,000 for solid waste services it provides for several townships and plantations in northern Franklin County. Rangeley selectmen had threatened to shut off services to those areas by July 1, after commissioners initially decreased the amount the county would pay.
In the proposed budget, towns providing services to townships or plantations have requested the following:
• Phillips: $14,000, up from $13,000
• Eustis: $28,000, up from $25,000
• Kingfield: $30,000, up from $25,000
• Rangeley: $22,100, up from $17,000
• Weld: $4,576, down from $4,605
• Wilton: $2,960, down from $3,042
The proposed fire protection amount is $68,277, an increase of $7,189, over the current $61,088 that was approved last year. After the budget was approved for 2005-06, some discussion between Kingfield selectmen and commissioners arose after commissioners decided to cut $4,000 from the $5,500 approved for Kingfield to provide service to a portion of Freeman Township. A compromise was reached after Kingfield selectmen decided not to provide the service to Freeman Ridge residents and the two parties settled on $3,500.
Requested amounts in the 2006-07 proposed budget for fire protection are:
• Phillips: $4,000, same as this year
• Kingfield: $5,000, up from $3,500
• Rangeley: $11,921, up from $8,703
• Strong: $5,500, up from $4,500
• Salem Fire Department: $23,315, up from $19,440
• Weld: $541, down from $2,945
• Eustis: $18,000, up from $16,000.
Before reviewing the proposed unorganized territory budget, commissioners met in executive session with Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson for nearly an hour to discuss pay increases in the county’s proposed 2006 budget for a legal secretary and the victim/witness advocate.
The district attorney’s office had requested $28,178 for each of the jobs, which would have given them each 5 percent pay increases, rather than a 3 percent cost-of-living increase. Commissioners recommended $26,891 for each job in their initial budget review.
After the executive session, commissioners took no action. The original requested amount of $28,178 for each position will go before the county Budget Committee. That board has an organizational meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the county commissioners’ office.
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