The comments below are my views alone and are not intended to represent either the views of the Board of Selectmen or any other selectmen.

Often individuals interchange the terms “town budget” with “property taxes.” Doing so is incredibly misleading.

Our property taxes include the schools (73 percent), the county (7 percent), and the town operating budget (20 percent). The town operating budget is a relatively small portion of your property taxes.

Earlier this year, the Board of Selectmen established a goal for the town to reduce the use of cash reserves by $300,000.

With that in mind, the town manager, working with the department managers, proposed a budget for the coming fiscal year, which would reduce the taxes required to fund the town's operating budget by $380,000.

All departments were affected. The town employees accepted a new medical plan, which lowered the premiums. The reduced premiums allowed the town to provide a pay increase without affecting the budget.

This budget reduction will provide us with some flexibility with the town's portion of the property taxes. However, the objective of the reduction is to increase our cash reserves and thereby reduce our need for borrowing to pay our bills. There is some flexibility; but, it is not likely that the town would be able to compensate for additional taxes resulting from changes made by the state legislature or from changes to the school budget.

One of the more significant items we will be asked to vote on is the municipal planning budget.  There are those who would reduce the effort for the town planner at the very time when that effort is most required.

As the economic climate changes, we must have the ability to respond as changes present themselves. Wiscasset has an exceptional asset in our current planner, Misty Parker. She brings a degree of professionalism to the town when it is most needed.

In addition to providing a service to both the Ordinance Review Committee and the Planning Board, Parker's efforts at creating a business friendly environment has resulted in a number of new businesses coming to our community.  

To comply with Wiscasset’s Comprehensive Plan, our planner is providing the necessary leadership to the Bath Road Master Plan Committee. She participates in the Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission. She continues to be involved in the resolution of the Mason Station issues. The salary increase represents a market adjustment and makes the current salary for 40 hours comparable to the salary for 30 hours for the previous planner.

The planner is a key element necessary for Wiscasset to grow and prosper and yet preserve the character of the community. I urge you to vote yes on Question 4 for the municipal planning budget.

For a number of years Sue Varney has been performing duties beyond those required of the assessor without adequate compensation. She performs a financial oversight of the Clerk/Finance Office by reconciling the town accounts on a monthly basis. She serves as the human resource director for town employees and also functions as the acting town manager in the town manager's absence. The increase in this budget item recognizes that these additional duties provide justification for a long overdue grade change. Union contract negotiations have included this grade change.

Sue Varney is an excellent example of an employee performing beyond expectations and she should be adequately compensated. I urge you to vote yes on Question 11 for the Office of Assessment/Human Resources department budget.

Fortunately, Wiscasset has an investment policy, which provides for an annual withdrawal from the Reserve Fund, to be used primarily for capital projects. That 3.5 percent withdrawal continues to grow each year.

This year the withdrawal is intended to be used for road and sidewalk repairs, fire truck repairs, a public works truck, a municipal building generator, wastewater pump repairs, and municipal building repairs. It will also be used to pay for the cardiac monitor lease and municipal pier debt. Payment for these comes from the reserve fund – not from taxes.

I urge you to vote yes on Question 39 for the Capital Projects budget.

Very slowly things are beginning to change in Wiscasset. For example, the airport is now self- supporting; only a few years ago some were against funding the airport. It is now a contributor to the town's revenue.

Currently, maintenance of the town's cemeteries is completely paid for by an endowment fund, no longer requiring any property taxes.

Last year the town operating budget was flat and yet we saw an increase in property taxes due primarily to an increase in the school budget. Please keep in mind that approximately 80 percent of your property taxes are above and beyond the town operating budget.

I believe that the budget presented to the voters has exercised fiscal restraint while maintaining and supporting the town’s services and obligations. I urge you to vote in agreement with the selectmen's recommendations.

The decisions belong to you. Only the voters can authorize the spending of money. Please vote on June 11.  Wiscasset is shaped by the results of the choices and decisions we make.