BELGRADE (AP) — Belgrade voters have approved tax breaks for a proposed a natural gas pipeline through the community despite possibly illegal automated telephone calls urging them to vote against the breaks.

Residents on Tuesday voted 277-198 to approve breaks for the company that wants to build the pipeline from Richmond to Madison.

Selectwoman Penny Morrell tells the Kennebec Journal the automated message was illegal because the female caller did not identify herself.

State law says a person may not “authorize, commission, conduct or administer a push poll by telephone or telephonic device unless, during each call, the caller identifies the person or organization sponsoring or authorizing the call.”

Kennebec Valley Gas Co. officials recently turned to Belgrade for an alternate route after Sidney voters rejected tax breaks for the project.

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