Madawaska voters to consider budget

MADAWASKA – Next month residents of Madawaska will vote on the municipal budget of $4,403,881, an increase of $280,543 over this year’s budget.

The amount does not include the town’s share of education expenditures, which have not yet been approved by the Madawaska budget committee, and the town’s share of the Aroostook County tax.

The Aroostook County tax has been set at $438,827. The unapproved school budget calls for a municipal expenditure of $5,070,249.

The annual town meeting at Madawaska will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, in the Madawaska High School cafetorium. Residents will vote on both the municipal and education budgets.

The local budget could be altered by five articles that are special projects and will be voted on separately.

Those include $9,500 for the local ATV Club; $30,000 for an economic development director; $48,000 to put toward the purchase a front-end loader for the highway department; $150,000 for a reconstruction project on lower Beaulieu Road; and $10,000 to construct a loop from Spring Street to Winter Street.

One helpful note for the town is that the last payment on the 11th Avenue reconstruction was made in 2004-2005. The interest and principal payment of that project was $148,720.

The remainder of the increase in the budget is for: salaries, 2.5 percent; higher medical insurance costs; and higher costs for fuel, diesel, electricity, paving materials and heating oil.

This budget is Fred Ventresco’s first as town manager in Madawaska.

“It was a good experience, and things went well,” Ventresco said Thursday. “We are trying to hold the line on spending.

“All articles have been approved by both the Madawaska budget committee and the Board of Selectmen,” he said. “All items with fuel and fuel oil have a large impact.”

The town had to cut back on street renovation projects in an effort to hold down the budget.

Those involved in the budget process found it important to try to restart a development office in town. That was closed several years ago. The town is one of the few without an economic development director.

Ventresco said it will be an experiment to see if it will help the town.

“It’s bare bones, except for the few special appropriations,” he said.

State mandated changes in the Homestead Exemption Act are costing the town $175,000. Ventresco said the unfunded state mandate is costing the town half a mill in property taxes that will have to be paid by commercial, industrial and farm property.

Madawaska residents will go to the polls on Tuesday June 14 to elect three selectmen and two school committee members. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Madawaska Knights of Columbus Hall.

Three men are seeking two three-year positions on the Madawaska Board of Selectmen: incumbent Richard J. Dionne, former selectman Daniel Ahearne and Donald J. Chasse.

Paul E. Fongemie is unopposed for a one-year position on the Madawaska Board of Selectmen.

Newcomers David P. Morneault and Della J. Schlicher are unopposed in their quest for two three-year slots on the Madawaska school committee.