Westfield

Voters will be presented with a proposed land use ordinance as part of the town’s new comprehensive plan and also will be asked to approve $6,100 to help pay for developing the regulation.

The annual town meeting and election of officers is set for 7 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the school building. Voters will choose two selectmen, one for three years and one for one year, as well as a three-year board of appeals member.

Richard Watson, first selectman, said a public hearing is scheduled on the land use issue at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, at the school building.

The total proposed budget to operate town government and pay for education and the county tax is $483,429, up $24,695 from last year.

The property tax commitment to support the budget was proposed at $287,429, up $14,695 from last year. Separating the accounts, those expenses were $198,000 for education, $18,125 for county tax and $71,304 to run the town.

Watson said the proposed spending plan is not expected to affect the tax rate of $17.75 per $1,000 in property valuation.

However, if an amount of $10,000 set aside for a contingency fund appears to move the tax rate upward, officials will recommend it not be established.

“If anything, the tax rate will be lower,” said Watson. The budget also includes a $2,000 allotment for maintenance on the building that housed the school where classes were held last year.

Town officials anticipate a total increase of $9,000 in revenues.

Watson said the state’s $650,000 devaluation of the town with a drop in tree growth rates will result in a $2,000 loss in state revenue sharing. However, that devaluation also translates in a lower rate of payment for education, he said.

Macwohoc Plantation

Residents will gather at the town office at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, to approve an annual budget that will satisfy town expenses, education costs and the county tax.

“We should be in pretty good shape, it should be pretty close to what it was last year,” Selectman Ken Braza said Tuesday of budget preparations.

The tax rate for the community of about 120 people should stay at $12.50 per $1,000 in property valuation, he said.

At their meeting, residents will elect a selectman for three years, a tax collector for one year and a clerk-treasurer for one year.

New Limerick

Voters in this town of about 524 people will have to draft a candidate by write-in to represent them in SAD 70 at the Monday, March 26, town meeting.

No one had taken out nomination papers for the three-year school board position. Incumbent James Sennett is the only name to appear on the ballot for the three-year term of selectman.

Polls will be open from 4 to 6 p.m. at the town office followed by the 7 p.m. business meeting.

Town officials who are preparing a proposed budget for taxpayer approval say they don’t expect the general operating budget to change the tax rate that stands $10 per $1,000 in property valuation. They don’t yet have the bills for education or county taxes.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery