SW Harbor OKs borrowing for pumper

SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Town meeting voters decided Monday they want to bond for a new $500,000 firetruck rather than continue the community’s tradition of saving money every year toward future big-ticket items.

Although $40,000 will still be put into the firetruck reserve, selectmen had wanted to put aside $125,000 this year and equal amounts over the next two or three years to ultimately buy the extra-large pumper truck.

But the warrant committee won the philosophical debate between borrowing and saving, arguing it’s a bad year to build up reserves when the selectmen’s proposed $6.5 million budget would increase taxes by $500,000.

Although voters agreed on the firetruck reserve, they sided with selectmen and approved another $50,000 for the fire station reserve and $15,000 more than the Warrant Committee recommended in reserves for sidewalk reconstruction.

“We would be fiscally irresponsible” if the town did not set up reserve accounts for infrastructure and large equipment buys and reduce the need for long-term bonding, Selectman Mark Campbell said.

Town meeting voters also decided to join the Acadia Disposal District after opting out of the regional effort three years ago.

Selectman Skip Wilson lobbied for the town to join with Mount Desert, Trenton, Tremont and the Cranberry Isles to look at future options for disposal of municipal solid waste and recyclables – among the most expensive items in town budgets.

The Pemetic Elementary School budget of about $2.8 million was reduced by $20,000 at the town meeting because of lower staffing and health insurance costs. Voters also approved $12,000 for the town’s centennial celebration next year, over the objections of the warrant committee.

Municipal elections will be held today 10 a.m.-8 p.m. in the American Legion Hall adjacent to the town office.