BINGHAM — Residents will consider a 5 percent increase in the town’s annual budget Monday, with the largest cost increase going toward the Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service.

The $638,090 budget represents the amount of money to be raised from taxation in 2019 and is scheduled to be voted on by residents at  Town Meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the Quimby Middle School gymnasium and auditorium.

The proposed budget total represents about a 5 percent increase from the current $607,096.

The largest increase in the budget comes from the ambulance service, the cost of which is expected to increase by $26,592, or almost 50 percent.

“It’s just the cost of doing business,” First Selectman Steve Steward said. “It’s a lot of expense (to run an ambulance service), and they’ve been trying to get by on a shoestring budget. Now it’s finally caught up with them.”

The Bingham Water District also is looking to raise the cost of fire hydrant rental 10 percent, from $78,000 to $85,800 annually.

“The rest of the budget is pretty much flat,” Steward said. “We have to be responsible with our budget because you never know what’s going to come up with the other two, the school and the county. We try to keep ours bare-bones and see what they do.”

In elections, Second Selectman Juliana Richard is seeking re-election to the Board of Selectmen, and School Administrative District 13 board members Elizabeth Brochu and Brandy Hill also are seeking re-election. There are no contested races.

Polls will be open from 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Quimby Middle School.

 

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com 

Twitter: @rachel_ohm

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