March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Jackman budget passes; mill rate undetermined

JACKMAN — About 30 voters gathered Thursday at the Forest Hills Consolidated School auditorium and approved a budget for 2000 with no changes in the warrant as presented.

The town’s new spending plan of $947,208 consists of $926,908 from taxation and $20,300 from the general surplus. The total budget is 7.7 percent more than the amount appropriated a year ago.

The actual mill rate for Jackman cannot be determined until after the SAD 12 referendum in May and the assessment in June, Town Manager Kathleen MacKenzie pointed out.

The public works department had the biggest account at $223,227, which covers a $53,000 paving project for four streets and a $52,682 truck purchase, MacKenzie said. The town plans to resurface Forest, Elm, Spruce and Mill streets and buy a new truck in 2000.

The Somerset County tax went up by 38 percent from $28,996 last year to $40,100 this year. County officials attributed their tax hike to a drop in the surplus fund this year and increases for health insurance, new equipment and relocation of the county’s communications site.

The only disagreement of the night arose over installation of a streetlight on Airport Road. The measure was approved in a 12-11 vote.

Other major appropriations included $130,497 for community services, $10,000 for the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce, which uses the funds for snowmobile trails grooming and $92,150 for operation and maintenance of public facilities, of which $20,300 was taken from surplus to cover the St. Anthony’s lot purchase approved at a special town meeting Jan. 19.

Residents also approved an article to raise an estimated $591,730 from general fund revenues to be used to decrease the amount of money to be raised by property taxes. Estimates from the general revenues included $384,806 in nondedicated money, $3,000 for a fire department donation, $67,000 in state revenue sharing and $34,000 in tree growth tax reimbursement.

In the local elections held Wednesday at the municipal building, incumbents Frank Haggan Sr. with 58 votes, and Gary Garland with 49 votes were re-elected to three-year terms on the Board of Selectmen, fending off a challenge by Joseph Bergeron, who had 26 votes.

In two unopposed races, Maxim Fortin was elected to a three-year seat on the SAD 12 board of education, and Prentiss Gourde for a three-year term of trustee for the Jackman utility district.


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