Sebec residents approve $555K budget

By Mark Putnam
Staff Writer

    SEBEC — Citizens gave their approval to a municipal budget of just over $554,654 for the 2013-14 fiscal year during the annual town meeting on Monday at the Harland A. Ladd Municipal Building. Walter Emmons served as moderator. It took about 70 minutes for the 25 voters who attended the meeting to pass all 33 article n the warrant.

Observer photo/Jeannette Hughes

    MAN IN CHARGE — Walter Emmons served again as moderator for Sebec’s annual town meeting, held Monday night at the Harland A. Ladd Municipal Building.

    Combined with a $561,158 RSU 68 assessment, county tax of  $98,865 and $12,431 in overlay, the total assessment to town property owners is more than $1.2 million. Factoring in $28,935 in state revenue sharing funds, $11,631 in Homestead reimbursements and $361,507 in other revenues, the amount to be raised in local taxes is $843,233. The mil rate has been set at 10.5.
    Among the larger monetary items approved at the town meeting was a little more than $75,813 for general government and $35,000 for solid waste, recycle and demolition debris. Also, $35,000 was authorized for fire protection.
    The gross sum approved for winter roads — including plowing, sanding and snow fencing — was $105,000. Another $28,000 was OKed for summer roads, with about $10,032 carried forward.
    An additional sum of approximately $195,000 was voted on for a road construction reserve account to be used when needed. A large chunk of the amount to go into the account will come from sources other than 2013-14 tax dollars, such as over $141,816 carried forward and $33,685 from revenue sharing. Also, $65,568 was approved for the paving roads reserves account with the entire amount carried forward from previous year. Sandy Fessenden was re-elected to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen.
    In her Town Clerk’s Report, Carol Cress recorded one birth, seven deaths and two marriages during the period of July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. In his report, Road Commissioner Joseph Flint announced plans to do some more gravel work on the Hughes and North roads and to replace some culverts on the North Road. He also has some ditching to do on the Downs Road.
    The Sebec Volunteer Fire Department responded to 25 calls during the 2012-13 fiscal year. They included two structure fires, two water rescues, two calls for mutual aid, four grass/brush fires and seven vehicle accidents, according to Chief Kenneth Kelley.