Irregular Staff

PHILLIPS -- Voters in the Town of Phillips will have their say at Town Meeting this Saturday, June 27 starting at 9 a.m.

There are 56 items on this year's town warrant.

Articles two through four will elect a town clerk for the ensuing year, one selectman and one MSAD #58 director for a three-year term.

Evelyn Wilbur is the current town clerk and selectman Eric Kinney seat's has termed out. Also voters will see if they chose to re-elect Mary Jane Thorndike as a school board director.

The next question asks voters if the selectmen elected will perform the duties of the Assessor and Overseers of the Poor.

The budget is slightly up compared to last year with the selectmen recommending $1,225,576 and the Budget Committee suggesting $1,222,067. On the expense side, the costs are slightly down, but with less revenue expected, the overall budget is up from the previous year at $1,192,034.

"In spite of being hit with almost a one mil reduction of funding from the state, we tried our best to hold the line on items and cut back on costs," said Town Manager Jim Collins.

"We dropped from $120,000 to $81,441 in state revenue sharing, dropped from $40,000 to $30,000 in tree growth and dropped from $54,780 to $41,085 in URIP (state road fund assistance) all because of actions taken by the Governor and the Legislature," Collins explained. The transfer station budget reductions reflect cutting back to three days of operation from four.

Article 19 on the Warrant asks the voters whether or not a new plow truck, body, sander, plow and wing were wanted for a lease/purchase agreement. "I would say that this item should raise some discussion," Collins said. The total package is set at $135,000.

The Warrant calls for $10,000 for the Phillips Area Community Center for operating expenses. However the selectmen recommend $2,500 and the Budget Committee suggests $1,000 if matched.

Likewise the Phillips Historical Society requested $5,000 for operating expenses and the selectmen recommend half that amount and the Budget Committee $1,000 if matched.

Starting on Article 44, the selectmen and Budget Committee recommend the requested amounts for the library, observance of Memorial Day, chamber, Christmas lighting party and Phillips'Area Food Pantry.

An American Legion request of $1,000 is not supported by the Budget Committee and $500 was recommended by the selectmen.

Other Articles are supported by the selectmen and Budget Committee for the voters, but requests from Northeast Contact, American Red Cross and Kennebec Behavioral Services were not supported.