Last month, Boothbay selectmen proposed increasing their annual paving budget to $225,000. That's an increase of $28,000, but after further consideration, it looks like voters will decide whether an even larger contribution is approved for next year. On Feb. 12, Selectman Russ Pinkham proposed spending even more on the town's 64 miles of roads. "Twenty-eight thousand dollars! That's basically a couple dump trucks of tar. We will never catch up at that rate. I think we need to consider spending $300,000 a year and using some capital fund. I think we really need to do something to get the ball rolling," he said.

Adding $28,000 to the road maintenance budget had little impact on the overall budget. Town Manager Dan Bryer reported his draft budget ($2.69 million) remained around a 4% increase after the additional funding. So selectmen asked Bryer to provide them with information on how various increased levels of road maintenance contributions  impacted the overall budget. "I'd like to see what $200,000 and $250,000 look like," Pinkham said.

Selectman Dale Harmon suggested examining how even higher contributions ranging between $300,000 and $400,000 would impact the budget. Selectmen directed Bryer to show projections, at a future meeting, on how increased road maintenancce costs ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 increased  the budget. 

Pinkham commented even with increased road maintenance funding it was still less than what other towns spend. He compared what Boothbay spends to Wiscasset. "They have 58 miles. So I think we can definitely look at what we spend on our roads," he said.

Other than increased road maintenance costs, Bryer reported few changes on the municipal budget and town meeting warrant. One change is a proposed salary increase for selectmen. An article would raise a selectman's stipend from $1,800 to $2,500 per year. Another question seeks voter authorization to use Tax Increment Financing, not exceeding $202,000, to finance the costs of paving Country Club Road. Other than those articles, Bryer described the 2025 town meeting warrant as "pretty much boiler plate."

Bryer also credited the "Genius who sits in the town manager's office" as the one who set Friday, Feb. 14 as the due date for property taxes. 

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the conference room.