Ludlow alters fiscal plan

  LUDLOW, Maine — The town has changed its fiscal cycle to better align itself with the SAD 70 school budget.
According to Diane Hines, a small group of just seven residents gathered March 19 to approve a three-month budget that would allow the town to continue operations until June 30. The regular town meeting will now be held Tuesday, July 1 and a full year budget will be presented to voters at that time.
Hines said the town of Ludlow has typically been faced with voting on a municipal budget without knowing what the cost of education will be. By shifting to a July to June fiscal year, Ludlow will then be lined up with the fiscal year of the state and SAD 70.
To accomplish this goal, voters were asked at the special town meeting to authorize the selectmen to cover the expenses for the extended year and until the tax commitment for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
The group also approved a new code of ethics ordinance and agreed to pay the town’s assessor agent $15,000 to update the town’s property cards.