Fort Kent increases tax limit Move makes way for $1.2M borrowing package for road work

FORT KENT – Residents voted Monday night to increase the town’s imposed tax limit by up to $136,000 so that a $1.2 million borrowing package could be approved to repair municipal roads.

The town had a tax limit of $1,072,498 this year. Without the 70-20 vote to override the limit, the town could not have raised the money to repay the annual $135,000 cost of the road borrowing package.

There was a lot of discussion on the tax limit and the need for road maintenance money, Town Manager Donald Guimond said Tuesday. In the end, people understood the levy limit and the need for road maintenance is very visible, especially in the spring.

Guimond expects the town may be able to stay within the 2005 tax rate of 23.75 mills, $23.75 for every $1,000 in property valuation.

In elections held during the day Monday, Louis Moreau and Gilman Caron were re-elected to three-year terms on the Town Council. They were unopposed.

After Monday night’s meeting, the Town Council held its first meeting of the year. Laurel Daigle was re-elected chairman.

In SAD 27’s Ward 3, Sharon Johnson won as a write-in candidate for the board. There were no candidates on the ballot. Guimond said Johnson has agreed to serve in the position for three years.

Some 90 people attended the more than 21/2-hour meeting moderated by Henry Carbone.

All articles passed as they were proposed, according to Guimond.

During the town’s budget process, Guimond, the Town Council and the budget committee pared down the original proposed budget.

They had cut $1.15 million from original requests of department heads and residents.

Items that were cut included:

. $160,000 from Public Works Department.

. $37,000 from the Police Department.

. $35,000 from the Recreation Department.

. $100,000 from special road projects.

. $20,000 from parks improvements.

. $20,000 for a conference room air circulation project.

. $40,000 for computer hardware and software.

. $600,000 for a skating rink roof project.

. $14,000 for Fire Department equipment.

The original requests amounted to $5,690,332.

Gross appropriations approved Monday night amounted to $3,850,000, about $53,000 more than last year.

The town expects to gain about $1,513,748 in revenues during the year.

After revenues and other deductibles, the town expects to have to raise a tax commitment of $2,905,731, about $24,000 less than it did in 2005.

The new road maintenance package, depending on when the payments will be due, could create a tax increase of one mill, Guimond said.

The mill rate also depends on the final cost of education. SAD 27 will have its annual meeting in June.