St. George to consider real estate deals; budget represents 1.8 percent increase

ST. GEORGE – Taxpayers will contemplate buying and selling property when they gather for annual town meeting Tuesday.

On the agenda for Tuesday is a bid to buy an 8-acre parcel from resident James Skoglund. The land is across Route 131 from the Andrew Robinson Homestead near Wiley’s Corner.

The homestead is owned by the town’s historical society. The parcel runs to the St. George River near Fort Point State Park.

The land was appraised in October 2002 at $245,000, said Town Manager John Falla. It is assessed at $115,000.

The town’s conservation commission wants to create a trail from Jones Brook in the town forest to the homestead and across Route 131 to the Skoglund property, to the river.

The purchase price is still being negotiated, he said.

Voters also will consider selling land.

One article asks voters to sell the old Port Clyde fire station near the Harpoon Restaurant. The proceeds would go toward building a storage building behind the new fire station on Route 131. A separate article seeks $50,000 for the project.

The old fire station is a small garage on a half-acre parcel, assessed at $34,300.

In other real estate matters, town officials are asking to raise $20,000 toward structural improvements to the old town office-schoolhouse, next to the existing town office. In past years, the building has served as a schoolhouse, town office and space for the St. George Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Association.

St. George Historical Society would restore it as a one-room schoolhouse, where town history is displayed. Last year, $5,000 was set aside for the project.

A $1.8 million municipal budget is on Tuesday’s agenda. If it were approved, the 2005 budget would be a 1.8 percent increase over the current spending plan. The portion of that to be raised by property taxes is $935,571, up 2.6 percent from 2004. Anticipated revenues are $891,000, up 1 percent.

The current property tax rate is $10.20 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The town manager’s salary is set at $60,000 for the coming year, up 6 percent given an increase in salary and decrease in benefits.

Other town employees will receive targeted pay raises based on performance and adjustments for cost of living and pay for similar positions in area towns.

There are no major capital expenses in the coming year.

At the polls Monday, voters will elect town officers and cast ballots on several positions. Incumbent Selectmen Robert Dennison and Reginald Montgomery will not run. Frederic Carey, who has served on the zoning board of appeals, and Terrence Driscoll, a budget committee member, will both be unopposed for the two three-year selectmen seats.

Incumbent SAD 50 Director Sue Ferra has not sought re-election and there are no candidates for the three-year seat.

Voters will elect town officers from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 14, at the town office. Annual town meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the fire station meeting room.