POLAND — Selectmen raised more than eyebrows Tuesday at a bill for $12,725 for financial services estimated to cost about $6,900.

Last December, the town’s economic development consultant, John Cleveland of Community Dynamics Corp. of Auburn, estimated it would cost about $6,900 for his firm to separate the financial accounts of the two Poland Spring Bottling Co. Tax Increment Financing districts.

Selectmen told Cleveland to go ahead with the work.

It had to be done because the town wanted to amend the TIF agreements and state Department of Economic and Community Development officials said they wouldn’t consider the amendment until they had a separation of accounts back to 2008.

The board figured Cleveland was the person to do the job because it was in 2008 that he was hired to help the town deal with projects undertaken with TIF funds. That money was being used for water and sewer projects intended to prepare the way for future economic development projects.

The board told Cleveland they wanted a report on the separation of accounts in time for April’s annual town meeting.

Meeting that deadline proved impossible but, absent any interim billing, the board figured the account separation was going forward as planned.

Selectman Walter Gallagher was not pleased with a bill that was about 80 percent over estimate.

“I can understand 10 or maybe 20 percent over, but not this,” Gallagher said, “I’m furious. Taxpayers out there are going to be furious.”

Selectman Janice Kimball was upset that the board wasn’t aware that costs were mounting.

“This is a good reason why it should have been billed monthly,” Kimball said. “I am dismayed.”

Selectman Steve Robinson said he was disappointed with what the separation of accounts cost the town, but chose to focus on the fact that at least the work had been done and it would allow the town to move forward with development plans.

“It was a critical project. It was the right thing to do and we want it right,” Robinson said.

The board directed Town Manager Bradley Plante to schedule a workshop for Tuesday, July 29, for the board, Cleveland and and town auditor Ron Smith to determine whether all is in good order.

In other business, the board:

* Awarded the contract for winter sand to Washburn & Son Excavating of Minot for 4,000 cubic yards of sand at $3.25 per cubic yard.

* Named Jeremy Lothrop as an alternate member of the Planning Board.

* Approved signing a contract with the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department to supply law enforcement services at $195,700, an amount that was nearly $9,000 less than budgeted.

* Directed Plante to meld the two proposed investment policies presented to the town so the town could properly deal with how it handles trust funds associated with Ricker Library and the town’s ordinary accounts.