Greenville closes in on finalizing a municipal spending proposal

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    GREENVILLE — The board of selectmen plan to have one final meeting with the budget committee prior to finalizing their recommendation for Fiscal Year 2013-14 spending. The proposal stands at $2,116,008 which is a 1.4 percent increase over the current budget.

    The committee has scheduled an additional meeting on Tuesday, May 14 to finalize their budget recommendation.
    Health insurance costs are the major reason for the municipal budget’s increase, according to Town Manager Gary Lamb. Town officials are hoping to save nearly $20,000 by changing to a different health insurance carrier. The new plan has a higher deductible which means more out-of-pocket expenses for the seven employees and their families’ health care costs.
    The committee has proposed setting up a $37,000 special fund to pay for the additional costs generated by the higher deductible.
    “The potential savings is something we won’t know for about a year,” Lamb said. “We are thinking about setting aside $37,000. History has shown that we’re likely to use half of that. So we are looking at a possible savings close to $20,000.”
    Residents will vote on the selectmen’s proposed budget at the annual town meeting on Monday, June 3 in the high school gymnasium. The meeting will start one hour earlier than its previous 7 p.m. time. The board voted unanimously during their May 1 selectmen’s meeting to change the time.
    The selectmen also proposed to change some zoning ordinances which will also be voted on during the town meeting.
    The selectmen placed the proposed changes on the town meeting warrant based on the planning board’s recommendation. A repeal of the local timber harvest regulations is one of the major ordinance changes the residents will decide. The repeal would leave all local timber permitting and inspections up to state agencies.
    Any further additions to the town meeting warrant need to be made by May 24.
    In other action, the selectmen are considering a proposal to set an earlier due date for property taxes. Lamb wants to move the due date to Oct. 31. Payments are currently due on Jan. 1, but Lamb requested the change so it would better coincide with the town’s fiscal year.
    Tax bills are sent out in August and not due for another four months. In the meantime, the town needs tax revenue to meet several financial obligations by mid-September. The town has to make its municipal payroll and loan payments shortly after the new fiscal year begins.
    “Our fiscal year starts July 1 and we have between $1.4 to $1.9 million in payments to make before September 15. I’d like to change the due date to help our cash flow situation.”
    Lamb also updated the selectmen about a proposal to connect the Shaw Public Library to its nearby annex. The library’s directors are currently reviewing whether the proposal is feasible both structurally and financially. The directors will report back after their review is completed.
    The selectmen also heard about what steps the town and Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club have taken for trail grooming. The town and club have decided to reduce the amount of miles groomed leading into town. The club will groom about 40 miles of trails next winter. The town had previously contracted with a local business to groom 75 miles of trails leading into the town.
    The club will perform all of the grooming by using its Jeep Cherokee and leasing a full-sized groomer.    The selectmen will next meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 in the municipal building.