Budget appears stable in Eustis

EUSTIS –- The selectmen in Eustis are nearing completion of the 2010 budget on which residents will vote the first Saturday morning in March.

Selectman Jay Wyman said last week that, overall, it appears that they’re right in line with where they were last year. However, county and MSAD #58 school budget figures have yet to be determined.

“So far so good,” Wyman said. “If the municipal budget is up, it’s only a little bit,” he added.

The winter roads account will see a $30,000 difference from the $150,000 that was appropriated in 2009. This could signify the largest savings in appropriations from the previous year.

A $2,000 surplus has also lowered the appropriation to $25,000 for municipal buildings. No money is recommended for Blanchard Park which saw a $1,000 appropriation last year. Little league is also down to $500 from the $1,000 request last year. The town street light fund is also down $500.

The Recreation Department’s youth program request is, however, up $1,250 to a $20,000 request for 2010. Five hundred dollars was also added for Memorial Flags. A Red Cross request was recommended by selectmen up $2 to $689. And $1,000 was added for General Assistance which does not show as an appropriation last year.

The cost for ambulance service is also up $625 to $39,700 and insurance has hiked $4,000 to a budgeted $32,000.

Under Allowable Deductions, selectmen have agreed to take $50,000 from surplus in this budget to reduce taxes. State cuts in forecasted deductions include $30,594 less in state revenue sharing and approximately $10,000 less in tree growth tax reimbursement. School trust fund interest is expected to increase $20,000 for 2010.

The community benefit package from TransCanada is not expected to play a role at this time. TransCanada has pledged to contribute $1,000 per megawatts produced per year to the town which could eventually lead to over $100,000 in revenue.

Wyman said that any money received from the wind power development would go toward offsetting taxes.