$1.3M budget passed by voters on Swans Island New firetruck, police cruiser, Hancock County taxes approved

SWANS ISLAND – Voters approved funding for a new firetruck and a new police cruiser Monday at the annual town meeting, according to a town official.

Residents approved an overall annual budget, including school costs and Hancock County taxes, of approximately $1.3 million, Selectman Dexter Lee said Tuesday.

That budget represents about a 10 percent increase over the budget voters approved a year ago, he said. Part of that increase can be attributed to a $54,000 payment in the budget for a new firetruck. The town does not have the truck yet, however, and is borrowing one from a mainland town.

“It’s under construction but we’re already paying for it,” Lee said.

The town hopes to get the firetruck within the next few months, he said.

Voters also agreed to use $18,000 in reserve and another $10,000 from surplus to put toward a new $28,000 police cruiser, according to Lee.

In elections, Selectman Nancy Carter, tax collector Gwen May, school committee member George Anderson and planning board member Terry Staples were all re-elected to their positions. Joseph Staples was elected to the planning board to replace Vernon Johnson, who opted not to run again for his seat.

More than 100 people, 80 of whom are registered voters, attended the town meeting, which was held at Swans Island School, Lee said.