Dear Editor:

As the town of Boothbay Harbor prepares for the upcoming annual town meeting on May 6 and 7, I thought it would be helpful to preview what to expect this year regarding the proposed budget for next year.

I am proud to say that Boothbay Harbor’s tax rate has remained stable for the last nine years. While I cannot guarantee that this will happen again when the tax rate is set in August, I am pleased to announce that the municipal budget FY 2016-2017 being proposed at the town meeting is again flat. The budget items within our control are down slightly, less than half of a percent. The Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen agree on all warrant articles except for one, which is the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council budget request.

The town report is printed in April. As we do each year, we will do our best to deliver them in person when and where we can. Hopefully by mid-April copies will be available at the town office. It will then be uploaded and be available at our town website at www.boothbayharbor.org.

Thank you to the municipal department heads for formulating sound budgets and for all the dedication and effort of the Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen in reviewing and proposing another fiscally sound budget to the tax payers.

The polls are open at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Station from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 6 and the open town meeting begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the Boothbay Region Elementary School.

Thomas Woodin

Town Manager

Boothbay Harbor