NORWAY — Town Manager David Holt told selectmen Thursday night that all taxpayers should get involved in spending decisions this year.

“I think everybody’s taxes are going to go up and everyone’s going to have less services. We need to make decisions,” Holt said.

He urged taxpayers to get involved in deciding how the money will be spent.

Towns are struggling with Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed elimination of revenue-sharing — state taxes shared with towns — for the next two years. The proposal is part of a $6.2 billion spending plan that some officials say could decimate small town budgets.

Holt said he met with the Roads Committee this week and it is their opinion that Crockett Ridge Road should receive priority in its funding requests at annual town meeting in June.

“The road is getting pretty bad,” he said. It’s fairly well traveled and he receives a good number of complaints about its condition.

Secondly, he said, the committee would like to see some funding go toward putting a layer of crack seal on Beal Street. Although the road was redone a few years ago when sewer lines were replaced, Holt said the paving product the state bought turned out to be inferior and cracks have already begun to show.

Town staff has already been told there may be loss of personnel, changes in duties and no new equipment, should state aid be cut.

Holt said the Budget Committee is beginning its work shortly and new members are needed. He would like to see up to 25 people on the committee.

It is expected the departments will submit two budgets: one with what they hope to have and one with no increases.

Selectman Bill Damon said it’s important to get a wide variety of people on committee for a good discussion.

“They may not always agree, but they respect each other’s opinion,” he said.

Holt said despite some people’s feeling that their vote may not matter, in a town meeting everyone’s vote will very much matter.

“If you ever had a chance to make a difference it’s in Norway,” he said.

Applications for the Budget Committee are available at the Town Office.

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