Fayette residents to elect officials, approve budgets at June 29 Town Meeting

FAYETTE — Town officials anticipate a flat budget will greet voters when they gather for Town Meeting this year.

The annual Town Meeting, which will be the town’s first one since June 2019, will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Fayette Central School at 2475 Main St.

“Thanks to the efforts of the school committee and the use of the undesignated surplus, they’re coming in with a budget that should not significantly impact taxes when the selectmen make the tax commitment later this summer,” said Town Manager Mark Robinson.

Last year, the town’s mill rate was $18.85 per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a median-valued property of $155,400 in Fayette, the tax bill would be $2,929.29.

Accounting for county, municipal and school expenses, this year’s anticipated budget totals $3.05 million, with a $6,109 reduction from the current spending plan.

The proposed municipal portion of the budget is $1.39 million, an increase of $177,068 — or 14.63% — from the current $1.21 million spending plan. The spending increases are largely driven by general government rising by about $100,000 and public safety up by about $50,000.

But town officials anticipate applying $614,425 collected from all non-real estate funds throughout the year toward lowering the tax commitment. That would reduce the amount to be raised by taxes to $777,600 — a $16,656 reduction from the current $794,256.

Proposed Kennebec County expenses are $197,373, a $146 increase over last year’s total of $197,227, while the school spending plan is $2.08 million, an increase of about $10,401 from the current $2.07 million.

In addition to voting on the budget, Fayette residents will vote on officials for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school.

For selectmen, incumbent Jon Beekman is running unopposed for a three-year term. The school committee has one opening for a two-year term and two openings for a three-year term, and while the ballot does not contain names under these two sections, it does include four letters from individuals requesting write-in votes: Richard Darling, Kristen Laverdiere, Lana Sturtevant and Shelly Weston.

The town warrant and statements from School Committee candidates can be found at the town website, fayettemaine.org.