VEAZIE – Councilors have agreed to meet with the school board before taking any action on the proposed Palesky tax cap.

Town Manager Bill Reed presented an overview – Palesky 101: Understanding November’s Decision and Its Impact on Veazie – and told councilors that if the measure passes, it would mean 30 percent budget reductions across the board.

“When you’re talking 30 percent of a budget, you don’t really know what your outcome will be,” Reed said.

In a previous interview, Reed said a number of services, such as trash collection and streetlights, would be eliminated, and the level of service that residents have experienced for the last 30 to 40 years would decrease significantly.

“It’s a lot to digest,” Councilor Helen Cheney said.

The manager and councilors said they don’t want to scare residents, saying that California and Florida didn’t fall into the ocean when similar measures were taken there, but it’s important to let them know the facts.

“The timing of this initiative couldn’t be worse because people just got their tax bills and they’re angry,” Councilor Brian Perkins said. He noted that older residents who don’t have children in school are likely to vote in favor of the initiative.

“[But] those are the people hit the hardest when it comes to services,” Reed said.

Veazie department heads are scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Reed to discuss the impact of a 30 percent decrease in their budgets.

The school committee will address the Palesky issue further at its next meeting after Superintendent Tom Perry has a chance to discuss the initiative and overview with Reed.

The council, budget committee and school board will then meet Sept. 20 to collaborate on the issue.

In other council business, Reed informed councilors that Veazie’s two full-time firefighters have formed a union under the Orono Firefighters Association and have been voluntarily recognized by the town.

The Veazie Professional Firefighters Association is established as a separate bargaining unit but is affiliated with the Orono association because Veazie couldn’t form its own organization with less than three members.

As members, the Veazie firefighters will be eligible for retirement options and can participate in a number of community service and public education activities on the local and state levels.

Only full-time firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and company officers will be allowed to join the union.