Waterford, Maine, Voters Establish Disaster Recovery Fund

(TNS) – Residents at the annual town meeting authorized the Select Board to establish a disaster recovery fund in response to the severe storms this past winter.

More than 90 residents attended the meeting, Town Clerk Brenda Bigonski said, and all 66 articles on the warrant were approved.

Road damage in town was estimated at $2 million, according to the warrant. The town has applied for and expects to receive disaster recovery funds through FEMA, which should pay up to 90 percent of the costs. A note accompanying the warrant added that the town borrowed $100,000 from the Forestry Account, which is expected to be repaid once the disaster money is received.

To cover future funding gaps caused by severe weather, voters authorized the board to borrow up to $1 million from a financial institution.

“The monies will only be used in direct support of disaster damage and shall not be used for enhancements or nonrelated expenses,” according to the warrant.

The $2.2 million budget increased slightly this year, and the property tax rate is expected to rise from $15.60 per $1,000 of assessed value to $16.30, Bigonski said.

Selectman Jamie Toohey, running unopposed, was reelected for another three years.

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