Minot 2005 budget takes shape

MINOT — Prior to their regular session on December 20, the Minot Board of Selectmen met for more than an hour to take their first initial swipes at the town’s 2005 operating budget.  Also attending the session were Town Administrator Gregory E. Gill and outgoing Treasurer Connie Taker.

Selectmen believe that voters should find very little in the way of budgeting surprises, when they gather at the annual town meeting in March.

Only one new expenditure is anticipated at this time.  Town fathers intend to honor a request from Road Commissioner Arlan Saunders to purchase a “skid steer” — a small four-wheeled vehicle, usually with a hydraulic loader attachment.

“It’s about the most versatile thing you can buy,” said Chairman Dean Campbell.

“I’m not really in favor of financing that skid steer,” added Campbell, referencing how the purchase is likely to appear on the town meeting warrant.  “I’d rather pay that in one year [and] be done with it.”

Gill advised selectmen that the Maine Municipal Authority (MMA), who this past year took over as the town’s insurer, was recommending that Minot budget for a 15 percent increase in premiums. 

“They only expect rates to go up 10 to 11 percent,” said Gill, “[but] they told me to make sure, just in case, to put in [for] a 15 percent increase.”

Gill said that, due to the timing of the town meeting, he will not be able to get a concrete figure from MMA.  He expects an exact percentage for the immanent increase to be made available to him “sometime in May.”

According to Campbell, the town also expects a 1.9 percent increase in county taxes.

However, most, if not all, of these new budgetary responsibilities are expected to be offset by a decrease in costs associated with Minot’s membership in the Mid-Maine Waste Action Corporation (MMWAC.) 

Selectmen cleaved $20,000 off of last year’s $52,000 appropriation for fees at the MMWAC transfer station in Auburn.

Because Minot no longer allows dumping of what is termed “oversized bulky waste,” the town does not need to set aside nearly as much money as it had in the past for “tipping fees” — the costs to dispose of one container car full of trash.  Minot residents must now pay out of pocket to drop off such items at MMWAC.

“We found people were basically tearing down houses,” said Campbell, when asked why Minot had decided, during the last fiscal year, that it would not longer pay for this service.

“For the average person to bring over something bulky, like a couch or something, it’s not really expensive,” said Campbell.

Additional savings were found when it was decided to no longer print enough copies of the annual town report to distribute to all households.  Instead, this coming year, a simple postcard will be sent out advising when the report becomes available for pick-up at the town office.  Copies will also be available on the floor of the town meeting.

Selectmen will hold their next budget meeting at 7:00 p.m., December 30, in the large meeting room of the Minot Town Office.  Selectmen will use this meeting to consider 2005 salaries.

Campbell stated that selectmen intend to hire a replacement for Taker.  They do not anticipate folding the treasurer’s position in with the town manager duties as Taker had recommended when she resigned in early December.

Selectmen then plan to hold their first formal meeting with the town’s budget committee on January 6.  That meeting is also scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the town office.