It’s going to cost a little more to operate the Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District in the next fiscal year. The trustees approved a $1,668,367 fiscal year 2018 budget Jan. 12, a $42,200 increase. The budget includes asking the four member towns — Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport — to pay $37,200 more for district operations. 

A double-digit increase in health insurance premiums is a major source of the overall increase, according to Operations Manager Steve Lewis. Health insurance costs for the fiscal year rose from $143,000 to $170,000 for the district’s 11 employees.

“The increase isn’t that bad,” Lewis said. “We had one employee take the family plan which added to the overall higher cost than last year.” The district now has four employees enrolled in the family health insurance plan.

Boothbay Harbor will pay the most for operating the plant. The town’s share is 37.49 percent, which comes out to $426,774, a $14,497 increase over last year. Boothbay, with a 36.05 percent share, will pay $410,381 which is $14,181 more than last year. Southport will pay $183,277, which is 16.1 percent of the total budget and a $3,236 increase. Edgecomb will pay $117,935 which is 10.36 of the budget and $5,286 more than last year.

The district’s cost-sharing formula is based on a town’s population, property valuation and total taxable sales.