MONTICELLO, Maine — A small group of just 22 people, including selectmen, turned out Wednesday evening for Monticello’s annual town meeting.
In a meeting that lasted roughly 15 minutes, residents approved a municipal budget of $853,238 for 2022. That spending plan is an increase of $30,898 over the previous budget.
Town Manager Ginger Pryor said some of the reasons for the increased budget were rising costs of insurance, electricity and fuel.
“Paving costs are also sky high right now,” she said. “That will probably affect how many roads we can pave. With the way the winter went, we have a lot of work that needs to be done.”
She said due to staffing problems, the town did not do any paving projects last year. The town budgeted $70,500 for paving and repairs for 2022.
By using money carried forward from the 2021 budget, Pryor said she is optimistic the town’s tax rate will remain stable at 18.75 mills, which is $18.75 per $1,000 valuation.
Voters approved the bulk of the warrant articles in one motion, with no discussion or questions. Other large warrant articles approved were $97,000 for winter roads; $70,000 for garage operations and equipment maintenance; $75,000 for town insurance and unemployment; $65,000 for administration; $54,977 for ambulance service; and $45,000 for town officer salaries.
At the polls earlier in the day, Larry Goff was re-elected to a three-year term on the town’s board of selectmen with 28 votes. Goff was running unopposed for the seat.
