New Canada

Voters at the March 19 annual meeting approved a $65,031.71 municipal budget, $6,308 less than last year.

Expecting higher costs for education and solid waste disposal, town officials didn’t ask for money to repair roads and bridges or for tarring and paving projects.

“We will use money from excise and MDOT revenues for roads this year,” said Rodney Pelletier, town manager.

Solid waste disposal took a 33 percent jump after the population rose from 253 in 1990 to the latest tally of 306. At $16,700, that account is up $5,111.

“We tried to hold the reins on taxes and keep the mill rate at $13 [per $1,000 in property valuation], but it all boils down to the schools,” said Pelletier. “We have had to cut and cut every year on the municipal side, but the school budget keeps going up and up and there are less students.”

Last year the town paid $137,202 for education, and Pelletier expects to pay more this year. The county taxes also will be higher.

At the polls, voters re-elected Roger Desjardins to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen with 50 votes. He defeated challengers Roger Paradis, who had 31 votes, and Richard Pelletier, who had 28 votes.

Rodney Pelletier was re-elected, unopposed, to a one-year term as treasurer.

Chapman

More than 50 voters disposed of a 28-article town meeting warrant in about 30 minutes on Monday, approving the proposed municipal budget as presented.

Town Manager John Edgecomb said Thursday that the budget was essentially “flat,” as the $3,300 increase to the $273,806 budget was to be offset by excise taxes and timber harvest in the town’s woodlot.

“We cut the budget because we were anticipating additional costs for the school,” Edgecomb said.

The county tax went up $2,600 to $19,857.

The budget’s largest expense was the $56,944 for the general government account, which was up $9,000. That account featured 4 percent, across-the-board salary increases and a new $1,700 line item for computer maintenance and renewal.

The highway account was up $300 to $55,686.

The town’s protections account, at $22,525, includes animal control and 5 percent across-the-board salary increases in the Fire Department.

Fees for solid waste disposal were down $4,000.

Edgecomb said about $6,000 less was appropriated for reserve accounts and that the town had cut back on road improvements.

The legal and professional services account was adjusted upward by $4,000 to $12,000.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery