MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska officials last week approved a final municipal budget of $9.96 million, which represents a roughly $910,137 increase over last year.
Town revenues are expected to increase by $241,811 this year, going from $13.94 million to $14.18 million.
“If the town’s people vote to approve this, it will equal out to be a $836,657 deficit,” Madawaska Town Manager David Daigle said.
Some major increases to the budget include an additional $254,385 to the town’s ambulance department and a $147,113 increase to the police department. The budget also includes a new line with $132,209 for community development.
The intergovernment line item, which includes the town’s portion of Aroostook County taxes, increased by $161,753.
Madawaska’s valuation for County taxes this year is $446.05 million, out of which the town owes $878,719 in county taxes. Last year, the town’s valuation was $394.5 million with $735,348 in county taxes.
The town’s portion of the education budget, which has yet to be formally approved, is roughly $5 million, and represents a $236,059 increase over last year. Residents will need to separately vote on the school budget during a May 27 meeting that will be held at the Madawaska High School cafeteria at 6 p.m. After this, voters will again need to approve the school budget during the town’s June 10 election.
Voters will select one Select Board member for a three-year term. Paul Chasse and Steven Deschaine are both listed on the ballot, but Deschaine has since decided to drop out of the race to attend to family matters.
Nicholas Guerrette is also running unopposed for a three-year term on the town’s school committee.
The warrant also includes the approval of ordinances for sign standards, parking updates, and dumping snow in the streets and public ways. The town will hold a separate hearing for these ordinances on June 17.
The warrant also includes an item asking if residents will vote to use up to $350,000 from the town’s undesignated fund to cover pre-engineering costs for Maine DOT’s Village Partnership Initiative project, which will revitalize and update many of the town’s most frequently used roads. Another item allows the town to appropriate up to $1 million for its Mid-Town Revitalization project via bonding.
Another item asks if town officials can fundraise and accept donations for improvements to its Bicentennial Park improvement project.
The town meeting is set for June 24 at 6 p.m. in the Madawaska High School cafeteria.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated that Steven Deschaine was running for a Select Board seat.
