DEER ISLE – Voters at the annual town meeting next week will decide whether to ban the use of internal combustion engines on Lily Pond, a potential water source.

Voting for municipal officers will run from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, at the town office. Discussion of the warrant articles will begin at 2 p.m. at the town office.

The town wants to prohibit the use of the engines on the pond in order to protect the water from becoming polluted, according to Selectman Neville Hardy.

“We want to conserve the water,” he said. “We may want to use it for a water supply in the future.”

On behalf of the town, state Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, submitted a proposal for the ban to the Legislature, Hardy said, but the Legislature requires that the ban first be passed by the town. If voters approve, the proposal will go to the Legislature to be enacted, he said.

There are few surprises in the town warrant this year. The proposed municipal budget totals $987,422, an increase of $25,109. If approved as presented, it would increase the amount to be raised from taxes to $356,641, an increase of $38,158.

The snow plowing account saw a large increase this year, according to Hardy, jumping $30,000 to $225,000. That may not be enough, and Hardy indicated he may need to propose an increase during Monday’s session. Other increases in the budget include salary hikes for nonelected town officials, including the fire chief and assistant chiefs, librarian and code enforcement officer. Most of those salaries have not changed in years, Hardy said.

One new item would establish a salary of $3,700 for the deputy treasurer and tax collector.

There are no contested races for municipal offices this year. Discussion of the school budget will take place at the annual CSD meeting later this year.

rhewitt@bangordailynews.net

667-9394