Littleton, Monticello to vote on budgets

LITTLETON – Residents of the neighboring towns of Littleton and Monticello will cast ballots and decide town business on the same day next week when the two municipalities hold their annual meetings.

Both meetings are slated to take place this Monday, March 20.

Littleton Town Manager Jennifer Gogan said Friday that voters will be presented with a $349,190 municipal budget this year, which has increased $917 from last

year.

Gogan said the town needed to budget more money for solid waste and insurance costs, and it also needed to furnish an additional $300 for the recreation department.

However, the town also has been able to make cuts to its overall budget. This year’s budget includes decreases in costs for town officers and ambulance services.

Voters will not see candidates embroiled in hotly contested races when they go to the ballot box.

Gogan said Friday that residents will need to fill one seat on the Board of Selectmen. Incumbent Rae Johnston is the only person running for the three-year term. Similarly, only one candidate is seeking the open seat on the SAD 29 board of directors. Angela Wotton is running for the three-year term, a seat previously held by Kerry Golding.

Golding has served on the school board for several years and is not seeking re-election. He recently was recognized by SAD 29 panelists and administrators for his unwavering service to the district.

Voting in Littleton will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the town office. The town meeting will follow at 7 p.m. at the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Clubhouse.

On Friday, Monticello Town Manager Ginger Pryor was preparing to hand voters a $495,378 budget Monday evening.

That figure has grown approximately $87,000 from last year, which Pryor attributed to a spike in the cost of road salt and fuel oil.

The town also has put aside more money for local road repair.

“We have more than a couple … roads that are in bad shape,” she said. “So we’ve allocated more money to make those repairs.”

The two open seats on the Monticello Board of Selectmen are coveted by five people this year. Incumbent Jimmy Burpee is vying for one of the three-year terms, as are Rachel Carmichael, Merlin Faulkner, Glen Lynds and Marjorie Peterson.

Lisa Harvey faces no opposition in her quest to secure a three-year slot on the SAD 29 school board.

Voters can cast their ballots between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday at the town office. The annual meeting will commence at 7 p.m. at the fire station.