Wilton residents will meet Monday night for their Town Meeting to consider a $2.09 million budget that includes $15,000 for the debt service on the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant.

Voters at Wilton's Town Meeting on Monday will decide whether to fund upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Staff file photo

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Academy Hill School cafeteria. At 5:30 p.m., members of the Wilton Selectboard will be serving a barbecue dinner to Town Meeting attendees.

Included in the 52-article warrant is an article asking voters to consider appropriating $15,000 for debt payments on loans being used to complete the $10.8 million upgrade of the waste water treatment plant on Davis Court. The $15,000 town contribution is recommended by both the Selectboard and the Finance Committee.

In Wilton, a town of 4,116 residents, about 1,000 households and businesses use the town’s wastewater system. Selectmen began contemplating a town contribution in January but were hesitant because the system is not used by all residents.

Outgoing Water Department Superintendent Clayton Putnam warned selectmen in December that sewer rates will increase steeply as debt payments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture loans used to fund part of the project become due.

Justin Futia, the new Water Department superintendent, has said that rates could increase from $439 per customer annually to $760, and that factors in a $30,000 contribution from the town.

Regardless of whether voters approve the $15,000 contribution at Town Meeting, the Selectboard will consider using $15,000 from the Comfort Inn and Suites Tax Increment Financing to go toward the debt payments, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

Several years ago at Town Meeting, voters approved a one-time contribution of $30,000 to go toward early debt payments. The question was intended to go on the warrant yearly, though when the progress of the upgrade began to slow, the question was not brought back before voters.

Residents at Town Meeting also will be asked to approve using $80,000 of surplus money for several projects, including $50,000 for a building demolition account for the Forster Mill, $20,000 for repairs to the retaining wall at Kineowatha Park and $10,000 for repairs to the Wilson Lake retaining wall.

Lauren Abbate — 861-9252

labbate@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate

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