Columbia Falls

Voters who spent nearly two hours at the annual town meeting Tuesday said they wanted to see whether they could secure a grant before committing to buy a new $140,000 firetruck.

A warrant article had outlined a proposed financial plan for the purchase involving a $55,000 payment from the reserve account for that purpose and annual payments of $9,154, starting in 2004.

A total of 72 residents spent the evening considering the warrant’s 37 articles.

They approved a $214,505 municipal budget reduced by nearly $12,000.

The town saved money this year by not having to pay for solid waste disposal. That account had money left over from last year and the town expects to sell enough trash bags to pay fees at the Pleasant River Solid Waste Disposal District.

Whether the town’s tax rate of $22.80 will increase or not will depend on the school budget, Muriel Smith, administrative assistant, said Thursday.

Last year, the town made monthly payments of more than $22,000 to educate its children.

Princeton

The annual election of officers will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, March 31, at the town office.

The date for the June business meeting has not been set.

A nonbinding straw vote will be taken to see if voters want town officials to pursue grants and spend money to repair sidewalks from the post office to the Machias Savings Bank.

Incumbent Bert Ward is unopposed for another three-year term on the Board of Selectmen.

Incumbent Grace Hiland is unopposed for the one-year term of clerk.

Three candidates will vie for the two three-year seats on the school board. They are Jill Hamilton, Robert Ferry and Robert Ripley. No one has filed papers for the one-year term on the school board.

Jackie O’Neill, treasurer, said Friday the town has 872 residents, down 100 from the last census.

Robbinston

Voters won’t have a hard time choosing between candidates for offices when they go to the polls from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 31, at the grade school. The incumbents are the only ones running.

The business portion of the town meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the grade school.

Elections will be held for these one-year terms: Tom Moholland, first selectman; John Stanhope, second selectman; Ernest Johnson, third selectman; Cathy Footer, treasurer; Linda Murray, clerk and tax collector and Earl Stanhope, road commissioner.

Incumbent Don Reynolds is seeking another three-year term on the school board.

Voters will consider a proposed $75,000 municipal budget, similar to the one they approved last year.

Moholland, an eight-year selectman, said Friday it was hard to tell if the school budget, which the town will receive at a later date, would change the tax rate of $15.10 per $1,000 in property valuation.

He said budgeting had been a little easier in the last few years since new homes had helped to broaden the tax base and the town had changed its method of distributing revenues.

Robbinston, located between Calais and Perry, has a population of 500 people.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery