LUDLOW, Maine — Municipal spending is up slightly in the small community of Ludlow.
A small group of residents gathered for the annual town meeting, held Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the town office and approved 33 warrant articles.
Voters approved a municipal spending plan of $355,638. The budget is an increase of $22,783 (6.4 percent) over the previous year. Town Manager Diane Hines attributed the increased spending to a need for additional funds for road improvements throughout the town.
Voters also approved taking $28,000 from the town’s surplus account to create a designated ambulance account for the Southern Aroostook Emergency Medical Services.
At the polls earlier in the day, incumbents Shonna Davis and Anthony Long were both re-elected to the town’s board of selectmen for three-year terms. Davis received 15 votes and Long received 36 out of the 40 residents casting ballots.
Hines said the town’s tax rate might decrease, despite the rise in spending due to extra money coming in from state revenue. The selectmen were expected to set the mill rate at an upcoming meeting.
The town is also exploring withdrawing from the SAD 70 school district, with the hopes of joining RSU 29.
Residents voted 29 in favor and 24 opposed in June to begin the withdrawal process and authorized spending up to $3,500 for a withdrawal committee. The state’s Department of Education certified the town’s vote in a letter drafted Aug. 1.
The town must now form a withdrawal committee and hold its first meeting within 30 days.
