Chapman

The tax rate may be down a little despite a voter-approved municipal budget $12,900 higher in salaries and benefits. John Edgecomb, town manager, said the budget passed at the town meeting Monday incorporated greater anticipated revenues, such as $15,000 more in stumpage fees and $8,000 more in excise taxes to offset expenses.

The $282,310 municipal budget included the town’s share of $73,800 for construction of a fire station in Mapleton to serve those two towns plus Castle Hill. Additional fire protection will be provided by the city of Presque Isle at a fee for coverage on the Chapman Road.

The 25 voters in attendance also approved an amended mobile home park ordinance designed to define private and public roads, structures, uses of sites, permits and control of the parks.

The new budget included $1,600 as the town’s share of a three-year plan to purchase equipment to computerize the assessor’s records in the three towns.

“We had a good, healthy discussion on several items,” Edgecomb said of the town meeting, which lasted more than an hour. The selectmen had a couple of articles they wanted to talk about in depth to voters and wanted to make sure they had enough time to do it, he added.

Edgecomb said the tax rate could dip from $15.50 per $1,000 in property valuation to $15.30 for the municipal, education and county tax expenses.

The cost of education will be up $5,000 for a total of $153,591, the town manager estimated.

“I think Chapman will grow a little,” said Edgecomb. “We have had a higher number of building permits.” The community’s population stands at about 500 people.

Voters returned incumbent Kevin B. Carter to a three-year term as selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor.

Westfield

After a short discussion at Monday’s annual meeting, voters overwhelmingly approved a land use ordinance recommended by the State Planning Office.

The 155-page document replaces local ordinances, including those regulating barking dogs, noise and junkyards.

The new $483,429 municipal budget included the purchase of a plow truck at no set price; $45,000 for summer roads and the road commissioner’s salary for that period; and $35,000 to maintain winter roads, including salary and sand.

The budget, up by $24,695, established a $10,000 contingency fund for emergencies. Richard Watson, first selectman, said extra funds will be transferred from surplus in addition to taxes from new construction to keep the tax rate at $17.75 per $1,000 in property valuation.

Voters set the local appropriation of $288,429 for the municipal budget, education and county assessment at $16,000 higher than last year.

Watson said a drop in the tree growth rates set by the state would cost the town about $2,000 in state revenue sharing.

Town officials estimated the education costs at $198,000, or $4,000 more than last year. The county assessment at $18,125 was up slightly.

Voters elected Steven Vance to a three-year term as second selectman. Incumbents Michael Philips and Dean Field were returned to the Board of Appeals, Philips for three years and Field for one year.

Macwohoc

Voters at Saturday’s town meeting disbanded their volunteer fire department and will name a committee to explore coverage from a neighboring town.

Phyllis Braza, town clerk, treasurer and welfare director, said the decision was made because there is a lack of volunteers available to respond to fire calls. The department has one firetruck and also houses and maintains a firetruck for the Maine Forestry Service.

The $34,033 municipal budget included $14,873 to run the town office, excluding salaries, which totaled $8,350. The solid waste account was $9,000.

Braza was hoping the tax rate of $11.50 per $1,000 in property valuation would stay the same. She didn’t expect the education costs to be much higher this year for the 13 school-age children in the community of 104 residents.

During elections, Braza was re-elected to her positions, as was incumbent Edith Wilson to a three-year term as selectman. Sandra DeLaite was elected tax collector.

Merrill

Residents at the annual town meeting Tuesday increased spending on road construction to $48,000, up from the usual $15,000.

And given the option, voters also decided to lower the tax rate three-quarters of a point rather than to spend more on road projects.

Last year’s tax rate was $19.75 per $1,000 in property valuation.

The road construction funding plan includes $19,000 from the surplus fund, $18,000 in state road aid, a $5,000 transfer from the road committee fund, and $5,000 from taxes.

Residents also authorized selectmen to spend money from stumpage receipts for cost sharing with the firm of Prentiss & Carlisle Inc. to build a bridge over Dudley Brook. The proposed project is contingent upon a written right of way allowing the town to use the Daisy Brook Road for access to Merrill’s two woodlots.

Merrill’s share of the project was set at $4,000, with an additional $1,000 for surveying.

Voters honored a request by residents Robert and Irene Montgomery to discontinue an old road used by the Montgomerys as their driveway and as a public easement. The couple agreed to pay the cost of transferring the property deed from the town to themselves.

The new municipal budget was down about $5,000 from last year’s $122,600. An additional $7,000 in receipts will be transferred into budget accounts to help with taxes.

Voters gave selectmen a stipend raise from $500 per year to $750.

Thomas Goff was unopposed for election to a three-year term as selectman. Jeanne Cameron was unopposed to a three-year term on the Southern Aroostook Community School Board.

– Compiled by Gloria Flannery