Budget proposal would raise Hampden tax rate

HAMPDEN — Town Manager Marie Baker presented a proposed 1991 budget to the Town Council Monday, requesting an 11-percent increase. Baker said Wednesday the budget included a 28-percent increase in the SAD 22 budget and a 17-percent county assessment increase.

Baker said the proposal was preliminary and that she expected the council to cut some areas. Under her request, the tax rate would increase from $15 per thousand valuation to $16.60.

Much of the increase was from items outside council control, Baker said. School and county contributions are not areas where the council holds authority. Of the municipal budget, 82 percent of the increase was created by PERC tipping fees that are expected to be approved by a majority of waste district towns. The increase will be from approximately $10 to $19-per-ton.

Recycling efforts eventually may contribute to some savings in the solid waste budget, Baker said. Now newspaper and glass are recycled but the council will discuss recycling of other higher-quality papers and corrugated cardboard and Councilor Donald Muth suggested that public workshops be held on composting techniques. All the recycling and composting methods might remove material from the solid waste stream and reduce the amount sent to PERC, Baker said.

A public hearing will be held May 21 on a requested zone change on Route 9. Part of a lot owned by Dale Richardson is Residential B and part Business, Baker said. Richardson wanted to have the entire lot rezoned for business use, she said, and he petitioned the council for the change.