VASSALBORO — Property owners are looking at a tax increase for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

How much will be determined at the Town Meeting in June, when voters act on expenditures recommended by the Budget Committee and the Board of Selectmen.

At Thursday’s selectmen’s meeting, board Chairman Philip Haines said the Budget Committee has asked selectmen and school board members to trim their proposed budgets by $155,000, hoping to keep the increase down to $1 per $1,000 of property valuation.

Selectmen discussed whether they could do their share and, if so, how.

Haines said the main problem is that the school department has lost about $500,000 in other revenue, mostly state and federal funds. The result is an increase in the amount to be taken from property taxes in Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow, which form Alternative Organizational Structure 92.

The proposed municipal budget selectmen forwarded to the Budget Committee was no higher than the current year’s and would not have increased taxes.

In other business Thursday, selectmen agreed to waive disposal fees at the transfer station for television sets, refrigerators, tires and furniture Raymond Breton brings in as he cleans up the former Carl’s Quick Stop property in North Vassalboro.

Breton said some of the junk comes from the former store and apartments in the building. Some was dumped on the property after the store closed.

The underground fuel tanks are scheduled to be removed Tuesday, and the volunteer fire department will burn the building for him, he said.

Haines described Breton’s work as urban renewal of the best sort. Neighbors are happy to have the eyesore on its way out, Breton said.

Selectmen also voted to close the transfer station on April 8, Easter Sunday; discussed state road improvements in town to suggest to the state Department of Transportation; awarded the bid for mowing town property, including cemeteries, to low bidder Vannah Yard Care of Vassalboro; and renewed the contract with the Kennebec Water District to manage the China Lake outlet dam in East Vassalboro.

Town Manager Mary Sabins said water district officials are aware that China Lake’s water level is lower than it should be at this time of year because of lack of precipitation. The dam gates are closed completely to try to bring the lake up, she said.

Copy the Story Link