Brownville could see mill rate drop with new budget

BROWNVILLE – A municipal budget that reflects a $4,000 increase has been embraced by selectmen and the town’s budget committee.

If the town’s assessment to the schools of $503,975 comes in as budgeted, residents could see nearly a half a mill decrease in the property tax rate, according to Town Manager Sophia Wilson, who discussed the budget and the town warrant with selectmen Wednesday.

The unknown, however, is exactly how much the state will provide the district in subsidy. No figures have been released by the state to school districts as yet.

“We’ve truly given our best guess based on recent trends in school funding and Brownville’s growth,” Wilson said Thursday of the budget.

Wilson said residents will see a change in the budget because of new computer software. Employee benefits are now recorded in each departmental account and are no longer lumped together under one warrant article.

Selectmen agreed this week to ask residents at the annual town meeting to place $100,000 from surplus into a Norton Pond working capital reserve account should funds be needed, since the town does not borrow in anticipation of taxes.

Wilson said the expected Norton Pond development of a major resort in the community would increase the town’s valuation and would likely result in increases in assessments.

In the future, the project would bring in tax dollars. Until then however, the bills paid to the county and schools are based on the town’s valuation, and as the valuation increases, so would the amount of the bills. The account would serve as a cushion if and when funds are needed, she said.

Selectmen also approved a 40-article warrant for the 7 p.m. Monday, March 19, town meeting to be held at the Brownville Elementary School. Polls for municipal elections will be held from noon to 5 p.m.

The warrant includes a mass gathering ordinance and a revision to the town’s dog ordinance to allow the town to recoup attorney costs, according to Wilson.

The mass gathering ordinance spells out the permit procedures and guidelines for a gathering attended by 500 or more people.