The Wiscasset select board is proposing a 2020-2021 budget of $5.86 million that includes using monies from capital reserves to buy three emergency vehicles and doing other spending without increasing property taxes. The budget committee was set to get its first look Monday night, June 29.

Chairman Judy Colby said the budget approved June 25 is 2.1 percent higher than last year’s. She said property taxes won’t increase if voters agree to the board’s recommendation to take $1.2 million from capital reserve. As of May 31, the town’s portfolio was valued at $11.64 million.

If voters go along with the recommendation at the annual election Sept. 8, and all of the proposed purchases and planned infrastructure improvements are approved, $182,294 will be left over to apply to the tax commitment, Colby said.

“We worked very hard to keep property taxes from increasing this year and were unanimous as a board in approving this budget,” she told Wiscasset Newspaper. “All of the warrant articles were passed in one motion.”

Voters will consider buying an ambulance, police cruiser and a used ladder fire truck from Cape Elizabeth. Other proposals include buying a GMC dump truck for public works, four generators for the treatment plant and $80,000 for roofing work at the community center.

Department budgets for 2020-2021 include: ambulance and EMA, $583,606; police, $469,752; fire department, $147,959 and administration, $193,625. The parks and recreation budget is $829,889; public works, $628,972; transfer station, $560,217; airport, $91,616; waterfront and harbors $54,767. A separate article requests $46,305 to fund a school resource officer.

The board recommends raising $62,865 for community organizations. These include: Wiscasset Public Library, $57, 250; Healthy Kids, $1,500; New Hope for Women, $1,515; Help Yourself Food Pantry, $1,000; Church of the Nazarene Food Pantry, $1,000; and Bradford-Sortwell-Wright Post 54 American Legion Flag Program, $600.

Colby said if the budget committee has completed its recommendations, the select board will sign off on the warrant when it meets for a regular meeting in the municipal building at 6 p.m. xTuesday, July 7. Due to social distancing requirements, public access to the hearing room will be limited. The meeting will be live streamed on YouTube.