DOVER-FOXCROFT – A proposed 2009 municipal budget that represents an increase in appropriations of $473,065 over this year will be presented later this month for review before a June referendum.

As a requirement of the town’s new charter, a town meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at the former Morton Avenue Elementary School, to give residents an opportunity to amend or revise warrant articles before the referendum.

Two public hearings on the budget, also a requirement of the charter, must be held before the referendum. One hearing has already been held and another will be held in May. The warrant can’t be revised or amended at the public hearings or during the June 10 referendum.

The proposed 2009 appropriations of $4,039,640 will be offset by $2,145,560 in revenues that include $100,000 from surplus and $185,000 that was the proceeds from the sale of the High Street property, formerly the SAD 68 superintendent’s office. Town officials have proposed that the latter proceeds be dedicated to capital improvements at the Morton Avenue building.

“The budget this year is impacted largely by fuel increases; over $100,000 of the increase in appropriations is due to fuel,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said Tuesday. In addition, the revenue growth has been slower than in previous years, particularly excise taxes, he said.

Clukey said that based on the proposed budget, last year’s valuation, and an estimated school appropriation, the mill rate would increase from $15.58 to $16.85 per $1,000 valuation.

The budget includes $96,000 for the Morton Avenue building expenses which will be offset by $57,000 in revenue expected from the rental of rooms in the building, Clukey said. In anticipation of those expenses, Clukey said the Central Hall account was decreased by $10,000.

To improve access to the solid waste and recycling center, town officials have included $45,000 for paving the driveway inside the gate. If this amount is not sufficient to get the proper amount of paving and the depth needed to hold up for years, town officials plan to place the funds in a reserve account and add to the account in future years, according to Clukey.

Also included in the proposed budget is a new full-time maintenance position at the Morton Avenue building and a 2.24 percent cost-of-living increase.

To continue the upgrade of sewer lines, Clukey said the town has proposed a $1.5 million project that would upgrade 1.2 miles. To get a USDA grant of $700,000, the town would have to borrow $850,000, he said. These costs would be passed on to sewer users.

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