2013 Town Meetings

March 19

China residents to consider slightly higher budget Saturday

By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
State House Bureau

CHINA — Voters will consider a budget that’s slightly higher than the current spending plan when they go to Town Meeting on Saturday.

CHINA

Town Meeting: 9 a.m. Saturday, China Middle School

Total proposed budget: $2,086,187

Issues of note: budget proposes to spend an additional $20,000 on paving

Registered voters: 3,000

Voters at 2012 Town Meeting: unavailable

Current property tax rate: $12.30 per $1,000 of assessed value

Elections: May 21 school referendum election

Town Manager Dan L’Heureux said the budget is about $45,000 more than the current one and totals $2,086,187. He does not anticipate the need for a tax rate increase, although the county and school budgets have not yet been submitted.

Also, if state revenue sharing is cut, that too could increase the town budget.

“It’s really an uneventful budget,” he said. “We’ve been cognizant of the economic times.”

The budget is proposed to be increased in the following areas:

• An additional $20,000 on paving;

• An additional $10,000 for insurance to cover increases in town liability insurance and employee health care;

• An additional $5,500 for the China Regional Lakes Alliance;

• An additional $3,000 for emergency services; and

• 1.9 percent raises for town employees.

The town warrant also calls for voters to listen to presentations from a representative of the FirstPark business and technology center in Oakland, the Thurston Park II Committee, the China Lake Access Feasibility Committee and the China Library Feasibility Committee.

There are no town elections scheduled until May, when there’s a school referendum.

Susan Cover — 621-5643
scover@mainetoday.com

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