BUCKFIELD — Residents approved a $2.34 million budget, officially took ownership of the library and gave town officials permission to buy a new bucket loader at the annual town meeting Saturday. 

Voters picked over the town’s spending plan in a four-hour meeting at the Buckfield Junior-Senior High School, approved a housekeeping update to the town’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance and rejected a capital improvement plan to borrow money to finance future maintenance. 

The meeting was the first time in memory that spending on warrant articles was capped, eliminating voters’ ability to increase the spending levels recommended by selectmen or members of the Budget Committee. Selectman Scott Violette noted that he voted in favor of the move so “taxes can’t be raised above a certain amount, because this (meeting) isn’t all of the town; it’s only 50 people.” 

Overall, the approved budget is about $60,000 more than the current budget, falling short of the $143,900 increase recommended by selectmen. Municipal spending will total about $780,000. The town’s contribution to the school district is projected at $1.45 million, with the county asking for the remaining $96,000. 

Action at last year’s meeting, at which voters slashed the appropriation to the Rescue Department before ultimately restoring it at a special town meeting, was not repeated as voters approved the $194,860 request. After subtracting the revenues the department receives through billing for its service, its net cost to the town is projected to be $72,000, according to Rescue Department Director Floyd Richardson. 

Richardson said most members are paid $2 an hour. He estimated outsourcing ambulance services would cost significantly more if the department  didn’t exist. 

“We’re watching your tax dollars,” Richardson said. 

The meeting featured two secret ballot votes. Earlier this year it was discovered the town did not own the Zadoc Free Library and residents approved acquiring it by a vote of 27-16. Voters allocated $38,000 to the library, and acquiring the library is not expected to cost residents more than the town’s usual contribution because additional costs will be offset by revenues derived from the library trust, according to town officials. An additional parking lot or two will be added in the next year. 

The library’s board of trustees will dissolve, to be replaced by a committee which will advised the town on its operation, Town Manager Cynthia Dunn said. 

In another secret ballot, voters overwhelmingly rejected a long-term capital improvement plan and an $81,118 appropriation to fund it next year. Former longtime Selectman Warren Wright and Budget Committee members Glenn Holmes and Vivian Wadas all spoke against the plan, calling it unclear.

Dunn called the plan a tool for administrators to plan future, necessary maintenance. After lengthy debate, residents voted 3-29 to defeat the measure. 

As a result, the property tax rate is projected to increase from this current year’s, though by less than the $1.25 originally estimated. 

Residents also voted to take out a $37,500 loan to purchase a new 4×4 truck with a plow for the Public Works Department and a $140,000 loan for a new loader, replacing a 46-year-old piece of equipment. With interest, the truck would cost more than $41,022 and the bucket loader totals more than $153,151.

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