Boothbay’s annual town meeting referendum warrant includes 33 articles asking voters to decide municipal issues including a proposed $2,277,113 Fiscal Year 23 municipal budget and five municipal elections. The recommended budget reflects a 1.65% increase. Town Manager Dan Bryer explained proposing a relatively flat budget wasn’t hard. “The change to LED lights saved about $26,000 so that was a major factor, and we tightened several other accounts,” he said. 

General government was the only cost center with a proposed significant increase. Selectmen recommend $604,524 which is up from $568,300. Bryer reported the 6.3% increase is due to a change in employee benefits. The department replaced two part-time employees with a full-time job. Public safety remains about the same with $510,787. Public Works’ proposed budget is $806,404 which is up by $7,429. The following cost centers remain the same: Capitol improvement, $140,000; general assistance, $8,000; service account, $155,197; and insurance, $52,200. 

Residents will elect a new selectman. First-term Selectman Desiree Scorcia decided not to seek another term. Instead, two first-time candidates are on the ballot. Russell Pinkham and Aaron J. Axelrod were the only two selectmen candidates to return nomination papers. The selectmen’s race is one of two contested elections. Incumbent W. Bruce MacDonald is being challenged by Trevor R. Morin for a three-year term for Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor Superintending School Committee. 

Three municipal races are uncontested. Allan Bellows is the second incumbent not seeking re-election. Holly Stover is the only candidate seeking to replace him as a Boothbay Region Water District trustee. Kevin Anthony is the third incumbent not seeking re-election. The only candidate seeking to succeed Anthony as a Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor Community School District trustee is Matthew A. Doucette. Stanley “Swing” Lewis is seeking re-election. He is running for another three-year term as a Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Cemetery District trustee.

The town warrant includes 17 non-profit organizations’ funding requests. Only five requested an increased amount. Boothbay Region Ambulance Service requested  $433,516.44 which is a 26% increase. Rob Ham is the BRAS board president. He told selectmen Feb. 23, the increase results from rising employment costs. “The increase is mostly for wages and benefits. We only have three full-time positions, and the rest are per diem workers. We’re trying to attract more staff with better pay and benefits,” he said.  

Ham also reported the district is expecting lower revenues in the next fiscal year. The cemetery district requested $18,000 which is a $3,000 increase. Bryer explained trustees requested a lower amount last year, and $18,000 per year is their typical request. Boothbay Region Health Center requested $10,000 which is a $3,000 increase. Board President Patty Seybold told selectmen the center had 2,330 office visits compared to last year’s 1,700. “We’re asking for more to fill the gap in unreimbursed fees. Our care is a really good value and convenient for both residents and visitors,” she said. 

Boothbay Region Refuse District’s request is $535,767 which is a $20,243 increase. Selectman Steve Lewis is the district’s station manager and Chuck Cunningham is a trustee. Neither attended the board meeting. “Nobody spoke on the refuse district’s behalf because all the information was sent to us and it spoke for itself,” Bryer said. 

The Boothbay Region District Nurse requested $12,908 which is $1,000 more than this year. Bryer reported the district nurse budget is based on a formula to which members Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport contribute.

Other nonprofits requested the same funding as FY 22: Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, $65,000; Town of Boothbay Harbor Fireworks Fund, $10,000;  Boothbay Region Community Television, $30,000; Boothbay Region Historical Society, $2,000; American Legion Charles Sherman Post No. 36, $500; New Hope for Women, $960; Boothbay Region Community Resources, $7,500; The Community Center, $7,000; The Harbor Theatre, $1,050; Spectrum Generations, $665; and Lincoln County Dental, $3,000.

Selectmen are also seeking voter approval to add $280,000 to the capital improvement plan. Article 21 asks if the town will raise and appropriate $140,000, and transfer $140,000 from the unassigned balance. Article 27 asks residents to approve the 2023 amendments to the zoning ordinance of the town of Boothbay to amend and update the official watershed map. Boothbay Region Water District requested the amended map. 

Article 28 seeks voter authorization to appropriate $25,000 from the Commercial Development Omnibus Municipal Tax Increment Financing District and Development Program No. 3 for street light repair and landscaping. 

Article 29 seeks voter approval to accept American Rescue Plan Act funds for Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Selectmen will decide how to spend the $5,500 in federal funds for qualified projects. Prior to spending, selectmen must hold a public hearing. Article 30 requests voter authorization to carry forward any unexpended account balance previously approved in regard to the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Joint Economic Development Committee and transfer to the JEDC’s reserve account. 

“We will use these funds on a future economic development project in Boothbay,” Bryer said.

Article 31 seeks voter authorization to carry forward any unexpended account balance previously approved in regard to the design and engineering costs for municipal and sewer lines to Hardwick Road funding. The previous amount approved was $50,000. 

Article 32 allows selectmen to spend ARPA funds for municipal employees. Article 33 would allow the town to increase the property tax limit established by state law in the event the Fiscal Year 23 municipal budget results in a tax commitment greater than the property tax limit. Bryer said the proposed spending would not increase the tax cap.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 2 at the municipal building.