Woolwich voters will consider a 2025-2026 town budget of $2.75 million at their annual town meeting. The budget proposed by the selectboard is $187,000 higher than last year. The board finalized the town meeting warrant April 2. The annual town meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 at the elementary school on Nequasset Road.

Among the business to be considered, the purchase of a salt and sand storage building from general contractor Jack Shaw, the town’s longtime road commissioner. Shaw offered to sell the town his 60-foot by 100-foot building on two acres for $400,000 to be paid in $80,000 installments over the next five years, at no interest to the town. After nearly 40 years of handling the bulk of the town’s winter road maintenance, Jack Shaw and Sons Inc. is no longer interested in bidding on the work.

The property offered to the town is next door to Shaw’s business on Walker Road. If voters agree to the purchase, the board will hold a special town meeting later this spring to raise monies for salt and sand and seek bids from local contractors for winter road maintenance.

“We didn’t want to bid out the plowing contracts until voters make a decision on whether to move ahead on purchase of the salt and sand building,” explained Chairman David King Sr. “If voters agree to the purchase, and we hope they do, then we’re planning to hold a special town meeting in June to raise whatever additional monies we’ll need for the winter road maintenance.” King said this includes money to buy 2,000 yards of road salt and sand.

The board pretty much held the line on the proposed 2025-26 departmental budgets. The EMS/ambulance budget rose from $389,880 to $390,586, while the proposed fire department budget fell slightly from $195,448 to $194,557. The drop in the fire department budget was mostly from a reduction in the worker’s compensation line

Article 17 asks voters to raise $71,506 to help support Patten Free Library in Bath, an increase of $5,114 from last year. Monies sought for other non-profit and community organizations are bundled in article 40 and total $20,391. This article is $7,500 less than what was raised last year due to a one-time extra contribution made to Tedford Shelter for construction of a new facility.

Allen Greene of Old Stage Road was named this year’s recipient of the community's Spirit of America Award. Greene is a former selectman and planning board member. The selectboard did not say who they plan to dedicate the Town Report to.

The selectboard is seeking volunteers interested to serve on the Communication Committee. Interested residents should contact the town office.

The Climate Resilience Committee is hosting an Earth Day roadside trash clean-up on Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Targeted clean-up areas include Nequasset Park, Tanner Square and the Pedestrian Tunnel. For more information, contact Dave Berndtson at dberndtson@gmail.com