WINDSOR — Residents at the Windsor Annual Town Meeting Wednesday will consider funding items that add up to nearly $1.8 million, which is up by about $10,000 over current spending.

New proposed major purchases up for voter approval at the 6:30 p.m. meeting, which will be held upstairs at Windsor Town Hall, include a new backhoe and loader, for $135,000, and a new forestry fire truck, for $87,000.

The new backhoe would replace a 2001 John Deere backhoe which, in turn, voters will be asked for permission to sell, with any proceeds from the sale of the old vehicle being used to help pay for the new one.

Theresa Haskell, town manager, said the 2001 back is due for replacement.

“It’s just getting very old,” she said.

The new, $135,000 piece of earth-moving equipment would be purchased with $45,000 from the backhoe reserve fund, and $90,000 to be borrowed through a bond. The six-year bond, at an estimated interest rate of 3.6 percent, would cost an estimated $11,300 in interest.

The $87,000 forestry fire truck, used to fight fires located off-road, would be purchased with $8,200 from the fire safety capital reserve fund, a $4,000 down payment from the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department, and $75,000 to be borrowed in a bond. The five-year, estimated 3.3 percent bond would have interest costs of about $7,400.

Richard Gray, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said the current forestry truck is a roughly 40-year-old military surplus truck that breaks down frequently.

Both the selectmen and budget committee members voted unanimously to recommend passage of those two equipment purchases.

The proposed budget also includes $450,000 for major road construction, continuing a trend of, over the last several years, providing funds to fix up most town roads. Work is expected to take place on: Weeks Mills Road, Pinkham Road, Maxcy’s Mill Road, Coopers Mills Road, Greeley Road, Wingood Road and Piper Road.

Gray said the town, with the recent years of road work, has nearly gotten to the point all roads in town have been done, though ongoing maintenance will need to continue.

The town’s current tax rate is $12.80 for every $1,000 of property value.

Haskell said next year’s tax rate can’t be determined until the total valuation of properties in town is determined.

She said Windsor’s share of the Regional School Unit 12 school budget is proposed to go up by more than $300,000, which she said would add about $1, per $1,000 of value, to the tax rate.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @kedwardskj

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