Waterford to vote on $1.25 million budget

WATERFORD — Residents will vote on a $1,251,574 municipal budget at town meeting Saturday, March 2.

The 72 articles on the town meeting warrant deal with the town's budget as well as articles to change the town's road commissioner from an elected to appointed position, posting nightly closures of the Hawk Mountain trail and a resolution opposing the shipment of tar sands oil through the Portland-Montreal pipeline, which runs through the town.

Waterford's share of next year's SAD 17 budget, currently estimated to be $1,870,947 by town officials, will be factored in following a district-wide vote on the school budget in June, bringing overall town spending to an estimated $3.3 million.

That number will continue to be a moving target as the school budget is finalized.

The municipal budget is $16,564 more than last year. Town officials say the increase is mainly driven by a bigger paving budget to address resurfacing on town roads.

Two new articles that require selectboard approval for expenses more than $1,000 and competitive bidding for expenses exceeding $5,000 are on the warrant. 

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. on March 2 at the Waterford Municipal Building located at 366 Valley Road.