West Paris Selectmen mull budget

WEST PARIS — Selectmen received their first report on the 2011-12 budget process. They have approved the progress and the process, but their votes are still out on the few details that have emerged so far.

The Highway and Fire Departments are not requesting more than they received in the current budget. General assistance is expected to decrease slightly, but employee health insurance is expected to get a 9 percent hike. The Soap Box Derby and the Old Home Days Festival are not requesting any funds from next year's budget, White said.

The board was most wary of the Recreation Committee's request for $8,000 more than it received last year, despite Town Manager John White's suggestion that no increase would be welcomed.

“It's a lot of money,” commented Chairman Dennis Henderson. “But, they do a lot of their own fund-raising.”

White agreed, pointing out that the committee had taken a hard look at its most reliable effort, the snack shack at the ball fields, and thought it could do better in the coming year. He also indicated that he'd walked the fields before recent snow falls, and believed that the committee's feeling is that more major filling and leveling is needed in places.

Selectman Wade Rainey said the Rec programs are “about the only thing for kids out here. And everything they do goes to help the kids.” Fellow selectman, Randy Jones, agreed that the program is worthwhile, and speculated that the adult athletic leagues might be asked to contribute.

“One thing, they certainly never seem to want for volunteers when they do things out there,” White noted.

“Yes, they always have a good crew, waiting and ready to go,” said Henderson

White added that the Rec committee does have a good handle on what needs to be done and the associated expenses.

Returning to other expenses, White said workers compensation was expected to increase slightly, but the state's unemployment contribution would be somewhat less in the year ahead. He is concerned, however, that the capital reserve account, seriously depleted for the new backhoe purchase, would need to be restored.

"All of the budget requests are in now,” White said. “We'll have a finished outline to present by the time the budget committee meets to kick off, next month."

The annual town meeting is scheduled for the first Saturday in March.

White also informed the board that a single property, with unpaid back taxes in the neighborhood of $30,000, might soon become subject to laws requiring the town to seize it.

“We've tried to get them to respond to offers to help them work something out, but we've had no response at all,” White told the board.

Henderson responded, “The people just have to realize that we have to go ahead and do what we are required to do.”

The other selectmen nodded in agreement. The specific property was not identified, to protect the privacy of the owners for as long as possible.

Rainey commented that he'd read that towns with hospitals might expect a tax windfall, of sorts, now that most of the health care facilities are owned by profit-making corporations. They would, therefore, lose the tax-exemptions on their property, which are accorded them because of their nonprofit status.

“It won't help us, but the towns that have them, like Norway, could get a boost out of it,” Rainey said.

“Maybe some of it will trickle out,” White replied.