RUMFORD — The Budget Committee has approved a municipal spending plan of $8.569 million for the 2017-18 fiscal year, an increase of close to 6 percent from 2016-17.
Following the March 6 meeting, Selectman Mark Belanger noted the budget is up by $1 million over the past two years.
Residents will vote on the budget on June 13.
Among the areas with the largest increases are:
* $26,000 more for the town attorney account, from $24,000 to $50,000. Town Manager Linda-Jean “LJ” Briggs said it’s because of anticipated legal costs because of a number of projects going on in the area.
* $50,000 for the economical development account, which has $212,000. Belanger said he was against a large amount in that account, fearing it might used as a slush fund or for loans. Briggs told the Budget Committee that the town should look into having an economic planner in the future, noting there are “grants out there to pay the salary.”
* $21,046 more for the code enforcement officer, from $33,586 to $54,632. Briggs recommended turning the part-time position into a full-time position.
* $32,000 for the library’s capital account, which has $58,000. Director Tamara Butler said $3,000 is to replace 10 public-access computers and $200 is for installing an automatic door opener for the physically impaired.
Butler said she also wants to do something with the front steps to prevent people from slipping on them, and in the long-term, she wants an elevator. The furnace is still working fine, but it is over 30 years old, she said.
* In the Parks and Recreation budget, Supt. Mike Mills said they will look to install a handicapped-access ramp on the baseball grandstands at Hosmer Field, where the stairs are also in bad shape.
They are applying for grants that would pay up to half the cost to replace the lights on the football field ($150,000) and the track ($190,000).
With the lights, the number of standards would be reduced from six to four. The LED lighting would also reduce the nightly cost from the current $500-$600 to $150. Mills said the new system is good for 50 years.
Mills is hopeful that another grant will fully pay for a playground, which will constructed in an open area beyond one of the scoreboards.
In the near future, Mills said they’re looking to have a well dug for their irrigation system.
“For what we’re paying (to the water district), we could pay for this in two or three years,” he said
He added that improvements needs to be made in Morency Park as well.
* $18,000 for the Fire Department utility position, which represents the last of the incremental increases over three years to bring the department back up to three men per shift, Fire Chief Bob Chase said. The department still has 50 days with shifts of two men.
With the Central Station now 100 years old, Chase aid planning must begin with the realization that the facility will eventually fail. In the future, money will be needed for an engineering study.
Chase said he is hoping for a grant to replace $90,000 in air packs.
* $8,200 to change the space with eight holding cells down to two and use the rest of the space for a workstation.
He said officers’ firearms are in their eighth year and will need to be replaced.
* $8,000 for a flashing sign for a crosswalk on Franklin Street at the request of Holy Savior School. Public Works Director Andy Russell said there are monies in the capital equipment account earmarked for a new plow truck.
* $3,000 in the selectmen budget for a recognition event for volunteers and employees. Selectman Peter Chase said the event will be similar to the Night of Appreciation that neighboring Mexico holds annually.
* $1,000 in the town manager account for equipment in that office. “The Muskie desk is not ergonomically correct,Briggs said. “I’m currently working off a folding table.” She said the town will not get rid of the desk, just move it out of her office.