PHIPPSBURG

Road maintenance is driving spending increases in Phippsburg’s proposed 2019 budget.

The biggest increase in the spending plan will be in the winter road maintenance account, with $350,000 proposed, an increase of $38,630.39 — or 12.4 percent — over what was approved for last year. Selectmen also proposed $400,000 for the road capital reserve account, an increase of $30,000 — or 8.1 percent — over last year. The road general account is proposed to get a $5,000 boost — 8.3 percent — to $65,000. The road tar account will remain the same at $20,000.

Salaries are also proposed to increase by $22,624.98 to a total of $516,314. While the overall percentage increase is higher — 4.5 percent — many of the salaries are increasing for just a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

Public safety expenses are proposed to increase as well.

The fire and rescue capital account is proposed to increase by $10,000 — 66.7 percent — to $25,000, while the fire general account is tabbed for a $3,000 increase — 17.6 percent — to $20,000. The fire operations account is proposed to remain flat at $8,000, as is the rescue line at $20,000.

On the police side, the operations account is proposed to increase by $6,800 — 43.9 percent — to $22,300, while the capital account is set to rise by $3,000 — 60 percent — to $8,000.

Other larger increases proposed in the budget are a $7,650 increase — 3.76 percent — to $210,650 for the transfer station and a $4,300 increase — 5.5 percent — to $77,500 for administration.

The town is proposed $2.4 million in spending for fiscal year 2019, an increase of $107, 849 — or 4.47 percent — from the current year spending of $2.3 million. Offsetting some of that increase will be lower taxes anticipated from Regional School Unit 1 and Sagadahoc County. Phippsburg also will apply $865,000 in surplus funds to lower the amount to be raised by taxes.

With the proposed budget, as well as school and county taxes, Phippsburg residents will see a combined tax rate of $9.13 per $1,000 of assessed property value, an increase of 19 cents per $1,000 — or 2.12 percent — from the current rate of $8.94 per $1,000.

That means under the proposed budget, the owner of a property assessed at $200,000 would be required to pay $1,826.

Town residents will weigh in on spending and other business at the Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Phippsburg Elementary School; the meeting will continue Wednesday, if necessary.

Tonight, voters are heading to the polls to decide on whether to elect incumbent Selectman Julia House or former town administrator John M. Young for a three-year term to the Board of Selectmen. Polls will be open from 1:15-7 p.m. today.

For more information, visit phippsburg.com.

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