The council did not want to exceed the 2005-2006 mill rate of $23.70, and the combined municipal, school and county budgets actually will reduce it to about $22 per $1,000 valuation, according to Town Manager Judy Doore.

Increased revenues and valuations, along with a reduction in spending and a restructuring of operations, helped town officials reduce and offset proposed municipal expenditures, Doore said Tuesday.

In addition to the municipal budget, the town is responsible for $174,000 of the Penobscot County budget and $1.3 million in school costs. The school budget actually reflected a decrease of $1,300 this year, according to Doore.

The budget, contingent upon adoption on July 13, includes: $139,000 for a revaluation of the town; $175,000 for the repair of Wassookeag Dam; $112,000 for the purchase of a new loader; $17,000 for a new police cruiser; and a $68,000 budget for the Morrison Building of which $34,000 will be used for repair of the roof and the area about the town clock.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, June 21, 2006 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."