Higher school budget, lower revenue sharing hike Guilford’s taxes

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GUILFORD — The Guilford Board of Selectmen set the town’s mil rate at $13.65 per $1,000 of assessed value, up 75 cents per $1,000 from last year’s rate according to Town Manager Tom Goulette.

    “The school budget increased $57,000 and the town’s share of revenue sharing dropped by over $35,000, so the increase was not due to municipal spending,” Goulette said. “Danielle Smith did an excellent job preparing the assessment and (Town Clerk) Michelle Nichols and (Deputy Clerk) Diane Cookson were able to sort, fold, seal and mail the bills after one day of intensive labor.”
    The Board of Selectmen expressed mixed feelings on two school district-related issues. Voters approved extending the SAD 4 validation process for the next three years, which cost the town more than $300 “or approximately $10 per vote,” Goulette said.
    SAD 4 is one of several local school units where budgets go through a “dual approval” process, first at an open district meeting and later at the polls.
    On the plus side, selectmen said they were pleased with the approval of the $680,000 pellet boiler bond issue for the Piscataquis Community schools, which is predicted to save the district a significant amount of money in fuel costs. The referendum passed in five out of six member towns and Guilford’s margin was 40-6.
    In other action at last week’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting:
• The town manager presented the bid specifications and the request for proposal notice seeking bids for the Guilford Library project and noted that bids are due on July 26.
• An application for off-premises beer sales was presented by the Red Maple Inn for a booth at the River Festival again this year. The vote was unanimous.
• Goulette advised that specifications had been mailed to five area equipment dealers to solicit bids for a compact track loader to possibly replace the town’s current trackless sidewalk machine.
• Barry Goulette’s resignation from the Planning Board was read and accepted and Martha Ward, currently an alternate member, was appointed to fill the position. Barry Goulette and Paul Stearns were then appointed to fill two open seats on the Planning Board of Appeals.