TEMPLE — Temple’s Town Meeting will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in the basement of the Temple Town Office.

On the warrant are budgetary items and an election for a three-year seat on the Select Board.

The town is proposing a $606,318 budget, a $19,899 (3.4%) increase from the 2021 spending plan.

Most increases in expenditure categories are due to inflation and rising costs of living, Tax Collector and Treasurer Sue Cantrell said in an interview Monday, April 25.

Cantrell anticipates the increased budget will have a minimal impact on taxes this year – perhaps an extra $25. She is hopeful the 2021 mill rate of 19.25 will stay the same for 2022.

She emphasized that this cost to taxpayers does not include the local assessments for the Regional School Unit 9 (RSU 9) and county budgets.

If approved by voters June 14, the $508,652 Franklin County Adult Education and $39.99 million RSU 9 budgets will come at a $468,337.58 cost to Temple taxpayers. This would be a $15,456 (3.41%) increase from the 2021-22 budget.

Larger changes in specific expenditure categories include:

• A $15,000 (15.79%) increase for town charges – for a total $110,000.

• A $1,000 (25%) increase to Maine Municipal Association membership dues and worker’s compensation – a total $5,000.

• A $5,000 (33.33%) decrease for building maintenance — a total $10,000.

• A $700 (58%) decrease for the village cemetery – a total $500.

Many figures on the whole warrant were impacted by bringing forward balances from expenditure-allocations in the 2021 budget.

An additional increase of note is for general assistance. In 2021, the town did not appropriate any funds after bringing forward $1,121.18 left over from the previous budget. For 2022, the town is asking for $2,500.

A selectperson will also be elected at Town Meeting. Incumbent Selectperson Tracy Dunham is currently running unopposed, though she said candidates are often identified on the floor of the meeting.

A seat on the RSU 9 Board of Directors was also supposed to be up for election.

However, Cantrell said the article was mistakenly left off the warrant.

“We never had this happen before,” she said. “Things were a little rough this year doing the town report.”

As a result, the Select Board will appoint someone to serve as Temple’s director for one year with an election to be held in 2023.

Dunham said the board is still mulling over whom to appoint – though they are currently considering Greg Kimber.

Incumbent RSU 9 Director Betsey Hyde is not running for reelection after 12 years on the board. The town subsequently dedicated the Town Report to Hyde to thank her for her work.

« Previous

Wilton Select Board acts on proposed zoning amendments

Next »

Farmington sewer budget doesn’t pass, rate can’t be set