RANGELEY — Voters will go to the polls June 10 to consider a $12 million budget for 2025-26 and elect officers.
Ballots can be cast from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Office at 15 School St. Absentee ballots are available by contacting the Town Office.
Included in the budget are projections for the town’s portion of the Regional School Unit 78 and Franklin County budgets. The county’s assessment is estimated to increase by 10%, to $1.35 million. The town’s estimated education payment is $3.92 million, Town Manager Joe Roach said.
The school budget vote will also be held June 10. The county budget has not been finalized.
The proposed municipal budget reflects an increase of about $800,000 over this fiscal year, which ends June 30. Despite the increase, the property tax rate could remain flat, certified public accountant consultant Marc Roy told the Board of Selectmen previously.
The general fund unassigned balance is expected to be between $5.2 million and $5.7 million by June 30, Roy said. Selectmen have recommended using $1.38 million from the unassigned fund balance to offset the tax commitment.
In addition to budgetary and business articles, officers to be elected are two selectmen, a Parks Commission member, an RSU 78 director, two Sewer Commission members and two Budget Committee members. All are for three-year terms.
Three candidates are vying for the Budget Committee: incumbents Shelly Lowell and Colin Madrid, and Piper Alexander.
There are no other contested races.
A nonbinding straw poll will be separate from the warrant and asks voters’ whether they prefer future town meetings to be held by secret ballot or include an open meeting for business articles. The poll is being conducted in response to a petition seeking to change the town meeting format to an open meeting. The citizen petition was presented to the board in February and rejected in March.
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