Residents in Farmingdale will decide June 17 whether to spend up to $1 million on a new fire station.

The Town Meeting begins at 1 p.m. in the Hall-Dale High School theater.

Article 25 of the 67-article warrant asks voters whether to approve the construction of a fire station and to appropriate up to $1 million to fund the project. The warrant estimates the total cost of the fire station, including interest, would be $1,605,900.

Farmingdale officials were hoping to offset some of the yearly cost using an annual fee from Hallowell as part of a lease agreement at the new station, but Hallowell decided to keep its Fire Department and is planning to build its own station, using up to a $1 million from an anonymous donor.

The first payment for a fire station, if approved, would be due in the next fiscal year, Town Clerk Rose Webster said, so it would be on next year’s warrant. She estimated an annual payment of $53,543 for 30 years.

The Board of Selectmen is asking for $1,611,354 for the upcoming fiscal year, down from about $1.67 million last year. Webster said $562,758 would come from surplus funds and excise tax revenue, $320,000 from savings and $24,588 from local road money from the state. The town would need to raise a little more than $704,000.

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Last year, residents approved the purchase of a new firetruck for up to $300,000. That purchase added a $26,470 payment to this year’s budget. The property tax rate — currently $15.35 per $1,000 of assessed value — is expected to increase because of an increase in the Regional School Unit 2 budget. Webster said the rate might be about $16.65 if the RSU 2 budget passes in its current form.

Unlike other municipalities that have enacted marijuana ordinances, Farmingdale is putting all its options on the table.

During the town election, which will be held Tuesday, voters can decide whether Farmingdale should ban all retail marijuana establishments and retail marijuana social clubs. If that ballot measure fails, residents can choose to enact a 180-day moratorium.

Selectwoman Nancy Frost is running unopposed for a three-year term, and Stephen Stratton is running unopposed for a three-year term as road commissioner. Aimee Ellis and Jon Lambert are vying for a three-year term on the RSU 2 board.

The town plans to appropriate about $15,000 less for highways and roads. Last year, the board budgeted $343,500 for highway maintenance; this year, the board is asking for $323,750.

The sanding, snowplowing, snow removal and salt contracts, which were for $226,228 last year, increased to $230,753 for the upcoming year.

Jason Pafundi — 621-5663

jpafundi@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @jasonpafundiKJ


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