When Southport holds its annual town meeting March 7, there will be 72 articles on the warrant for residents to consider.

Eighteen concern education and funds recommended by the island’s school and budget committees. These include special education, instruction, nurse’s office, transportation and a number of other items to fund education and transportation for the island’s school-age residents.

Article 41 will ask voters to approve a bylaw amendment so that Oliver’s at Cozy Harbor can serve “spirituous liquor” in addition to beer and wine.

Five articles concern the proposed change for town officers (treasurer, tax collector and town clerk) from elected, to appointment by the board of selectmen.

An increase of $7,000 over the 2015 budget is sought for the operation of the town office due to the costs of digital mapping, health insurance and computer licensing, according to Mary Lou Koskela, chairman of the selectmen. Voters will be asked to approve a few other expenditures that have increased since 2015, among these funding for the refuse district and the fire department.

But other proposed expenditures have decreased due to lower costs for insurance and salaries, and other factors. In addition, the town has removed two administrative positions unfilled for the past several years.

Residents will be asked to designate funds for a future total re-evaluation which, Koskela says, “could be costly, so we want to start saving for it now.”   

Six articles request funding for nonprofits. These include Boothbay Region Senior Citizens, Spectrum Generations, Mid-Coast Maine Community Action, Channel 7, the Community Resources Council and the Community Center.

Secret ballot voting will be held during the day on Monday, March 7 and the town meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.