Selectmen discuss budget with legislative delegation

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — With the elections being held last November. Dover-Foxcroft’s State Rep. Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) and State Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) are now both busy at work in Augusta. The two representatives spoke about various proposals and developments with the Dover-Foxcroft Board of Selectmen during a March 23 meeting.

    Sen. Davis said he serves on the taxation committee, which has heard Gov. Paul LePage’s full budget proposal and is set to release its report on April 1. “There is a little bit to like and an awful lot to dislike, that’s how I see it,” Sen. Davis said, calling the various tax adjustments “a very complex package.”
    He said the taxation committee’s report would go to the appropriations committee, which will then make a decision on the governor’s proposed budget.
    Rep. Higgins said a number of constituents have reached out to him concerning a proposal that would double the Homestead Exemption for some Maine residents, such as senior citizens. He said, surprisingly, many that would benefit from a doubling of the exemption do not want the benefit if it comes at the expense of other Mainers who would have to make up the difference in revenues.
    Rep. Higgins said he has a hard time with the idea of slashing the Homestead Exemption for those under 65 while also reducing the sales tax on meals, lodging and rentals — from 8 to 6.5 percent. He gave an example of some visitors from out of state having a large lobster feed, saying they would likely still make the same purchases if the sales tax remained at 8 percent.
    Another proposal of Gov. LePage’s budget has some non-profits being taxed. Rep. Higgins said Mayo Regional Hospital in town is governed by HAD 4, which is owned by the municipalities in its district and “Dover-Foxcroft cannot tax itself” so projected revenues from hospital property taxes would need to be found elsewhere for the community.
    “Here’s what I think is a significant flaw in the concept,” Rep. Higgins said. He explained several hundred youth camps are on Maine lakes, but if taxed these camps very may well have to close due to the heavy tax burden of the shorefront property locations.
    The concept of eliminating municipal revenue sharing is being discussed with the budget proposal, which could conversely eliminate income taxes. Dover-Foxcroft officials have previously mentioned how the elimination of funds received from the state would be detrimental to the town.
    Selectmen Steve Grammont said a known “solid” figure would be taken away with the elimination of revenue sharing, but how this would be made up is unclear for Dover-Foxcroft to continue to provide the same level of municipal services. “Any thought of this balancing out is just wrong,” he said.
    “We can’t do any more with property taxes,” Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said, mentioning how every month the board looks at abatement requests. Freeman Cyr said the elimination of the Maine income tax would not be a benefit to residents such as retirees who still pay taxes on their properties.
    “What the Governor is saying really does not make sense to me,” she said. “Really we are going to be devastated. What’s on the table I really don’t see in any way helping rural communities like ours.”
    Rep. Higgins said Milo would be hit the hardest among the state’s towns with the elimination of municipal revenue sharing, saying the community to the east may need to raise its mil rate by $3 per $1,000.
    “I have been to 11 town meetings in the last few weeks and I have not had anyone tell me to do away with revenue sharing in the least,” Sen. Davis said. He said among the state senators no one has said they are in favor of this proposal.
    In other business, Town Manager Jack Clukey said, “I think everybody’s aware that the Living Word Food Cupboard is closing its doors at the end of the week.” He said a new group “is working to make the food cupboard transition as seamless as possible.”
    The goal is to establish a temporary location for six months and then move into a permanent facility. The public works department is going to use a shipping container at the fairgrounds, starting in the fall, for equipment storage and the food cupboard would use the space in the meantime.
    “The thought is to use that shipping container for the summer,” Clukey said, saying the Fairview Avenue location is centrally located and well  known.
    The board ended up approving the use of the space by the food cupboard during its transition.
    Clukey reported that the solid waste committee looked at the possibility of a pair of pilot projects for the summer intended to promote recycling. The first project would be the placement of large recycling containers for paper and cardboard at several mult-family residential sites to see if the value of the materials collected would offset the costs.
    The second project would be to offer a monthly $100 drawing at the recycling center, with those dropping off such materials being awarded a ticket to be entered for the prize.
    “I think we need to get the word out what we are doing, and to continue to promote recycling,” Freeman Cyr said.