Albion voters on Friday will elect several people running unopposed for various municipal positions, including selectman and town clerk, then weigh in on a $1.03 million proposed town budget the next day at Town Meeting.

Voting in the election will take place 2 to 7 p.m. Friday in the Besse Building. Voters will gather at 10 a.m. the next day, Saturday, for Town Meeting, also at the Besse Building.

Candidates in Friday elections include incumbent Mike Getchell, for a three-year term as selectman, assessor and overseer; incumbent Winston Higgins, for a three-year term as road commissioner; incumbent Amanda Dow, for a three-year term as town clerk, and a separate three-year post as treasurer and tax collector; and newcomer Kingston Paul, for a three-year term on the board of directors of School Administrative District 49. Paul is running for a spot vacated by Steve Grenier, who chose not to run for re-election.

Also, Kevin Bradstreet is a running for a spot on the Board of Selectmen to fill the unexpired term of Kayla Dow, Amanda Dow’s daughter, who bought a home out of town and had one year left on her term as selectwoman, assessor and overseer.

If elected, Bradstreet, the son of Selectman Beverly Bradstreet, would fill the one-year vacancy; and if he wants to continue as selectman, he may run in next year’s election.

If voters Saturday approve all of the 54 articles on the warrant, they would agree to spend $1.03 million, or $75,285 more than last year’s total of $954,170, which does not include schools and the county tax, according to Beverly Bradstreet.

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She said the town is looking to raise $378,377 at town meeting — a total that is $2,095 more than the $376,282 raised last year.

The tax rate of $15.50 per $1,000 worth of valuation is not expected to change if voters approve all warrant items, but the new tax rate will depend on what happens with the school and county budgets, according to Bradstreet.

Article 13 of the warrant asks how much the town will vote to appropriate for town officers, including registrar, addressing officer, code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector, health officer, animal control officer, Planning Board members, assessor agent and election clerks, with the Budget Committee recommending $75,800. Bradstreet said selectmen are going to ask voters for an additional $1,900, increasing that total to $77,700.

Article 25 asks how much the town will appropriate for town highways and bridges and says the Budget Committee recommends $300,000 from the general fund, $30,000 from excise tax receipts and the local road assistance program money, estimated at $50,000. Bradstreet said selectmen recommend $110,000 be taken from local road assistance and $30,000 from excise, but only $100,000 from the general fund. The total would be $140,000 less than what the article requests, she said.

Voters also will consider whether to approve amendments to the town’s land use ordinance.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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