LUDLOW, Maine — A small group of about 30 Ludlow residents approved a municipal budget of $232,734 July 9 at the town’s annual meeting.
The 2014-15 municipal budget is a decrease of $20,360 (8 percent) from last year. According to Dave Stevens, chairman of the board of selectmen, $5,000 of that reduction was achieved by savings in the summer roads account due to a new, three-year contract for services. The town previously awarded one-year contracts for summer roads maintenance.
The town also realized a $3,500 savings in its property tax update account by switching to a different provider. The remaining $12,000 in reductions came from eliminating “discounts” to residents who pay their tax bills early. However, because the town changed when its annual meeting is held, and therefore changing its fiscal year, taxpayers essentially received four free months of no tax payments (March to June).
“We are basically sending out a 16-month tax bill, but people only have to pay for 12 months,” Stevens explained. “Where is our mil rate going to be? We don’t know just yet.”
The town meeting had traditionally been held in April, but was changed this year to better align with the SAD 70 school budget.
The town’s governing board is also undergoing a state of transition as last year voters approved expanding the board of selectmen from three seats to five. Additionally, selectmen Greg Dow and Virginia McCain are no longer with the board. Dow resigned several months ago, while McCain opted not to seek re-election.
That leaves the town with just one experienced member (Stevens) and four newcomers to the board. Newly elected board members, based on voting held earlier in the day, were Jeff Condon (3-year term), 33 votes; Dana Miller (3-year term), 32 votes; Joyce Folsom (2-year term), 35 votes; and Theron Bickford (1-year term), 35 votes.
There was no candidate for one open seat on the SAD 70 school board. Katrina Carmichael received the most votes as a write-in candidate. It was undetermined by presstime if she had agreed to accept the position.
“It’s a new era and new leap for us in Ludlow,” Stevens said. “It’s nice to have some new, fresh ideas from people willing to serve to help continue our move forward.”
Stevens also bid farewell to McCain, who served for the past six years on the board, and Dow, who did not attend the meeting.
“Ginny, you have served during some difficult times and you led this board, and the town, to where we are today and we owe you a debt of gratitude,” he said.
“I congratulate all the new selectpeople elected today,” McCain said. “I think it will be wonderful for the town and may you all work well together like the previous board has.”
She offered the following advice to the newly elected board members.
“You have to have the best interest of the taxpayers and the town when you make decisions,” she said. “You will make some unpopular ones, as we all have had to do in the past. You have a tough responsibility. Do your job with no hidden agenda and be fair.”
