The first Monday of March means town meeting season has begun in Maine, and Southport holds theirs at 7 p.m on March 3. Residents will gather in the town hall to decide a 59-article town warrant along with a $1,597,173 school budget which is a proposed 23% increase. The proposed municipal budget is an unofficial $1,560,255 representing a 5.4% increase. 

For education, the school committee proposed spending $859,391 for regular instruction, an 11% increase; $172,261 for special education, a 36% increase; $9,500 for other instruction, no increase; $31,100 for student and staff support, 52% increase; $52,399 for system administration, 44% increase; $123,549 for transportation and buses,187% increase. During a school committee meeting, Superintendent Bob Kahler reported the new van and driver was responsible for the majority of additional transportation spending.

Other educational expenses include a proposed $188,528 for facilities and maintenance, 54% increase; and $31,000 for all other expenditures, no increase.

In municipal government, selectmen propose $235,550 for town administration, up 3.4%; town hall operation and maintenance is down 1.6% to $14,175; code enforcement is also lower by 3% to $39,270. The planning and appeal boards proposed budget is $1,900, same. The fire department budget remains at $36,100. The fire truck fund remains at $50,000. Fire protection remains at a proposed $103,000.

Selectmen propose taking $22,048 from local roads assistance program and raising $438,152 for a total of $460,200 for public works, a 24% increase. Selectmen propose $3,500 for street lights, a 24% increase. Boothbay Region Ambulance Service requests $109,775 which is a 6% increase. The Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District requests $299,310 which is a 7% increase. 

Selectmen are proposing no increases for the library trustees ($119,535), and museum trustees ($31,750). Selectmen also propose $2,500 for general assistance which is a 25% increase. 

Selectmen also placed 14 outside organization funding requests totalling $45,965 on the warrant: Midcoast Humane Society, $950; District Nurse, $3,000; Boothbay Region Health Center, $13,000; Fireworks Fund Committee,$2,000; New Hope Midcoast, $2,665; Spectrum Generations, $1,100; Midcoast Maine Community Action, $550; Boothbay Region TV, $5,000; Community Resource Council, $7,500; Community Center, $4,000; Healthy Kids, $1,500; LifeFlight, $1,200; Harbor Theater, $1,000; and Lincoln County Dental, $2,500.

Municipal elections are held at the town hall from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Three incumbents are seeking re-election and one newcomer vies for an unexpired two-year school committee term. Selectman Smith Climo is unopposed for re-election as is School Committee member Katherine Tibbetts and Boothbay Region Water District representative Gerry Gamage. Each office is for a three-year term.

Adam Harkins is not running for re-election. He was appointed last March to serve one-year of an unexpired term. Mike Wallace is running to serve the remaining two years.

Residents will select the other municipal officers at the town meeting: two library board trustees, three-year terms and three budget committee members, three-year terms.

Residents will vote on an amendment to the land use ordinance. The article seeks authorization for expanding the growth district located in the northeast side just south of Cameron Point Road, according to Selectman Gerry Gamage. "The proposal would increase the district by one lot," Gamage said. 

Another article seeks voter approval to accept a Winslow Fund bequest earmarked for recreation and infrastructure.