PHIPPSBURG — Residents of the peninsula town of Phippsburg will meet at Phippsburg Elementary School the evening of May 1 — and possibly the following night, should it take that long — to debate a proposed 2013 municipal budget of nearly $1.7 million, although town officials recommend that $600,000 in town surplus be used in an attempt to keep the town’s property tax rate stable.

Also, whether the tax rate will increase depends in part on the as-yet undetermined Sagadahoc County tax and on ongoing discussions about the cost-sharing agreement among the five communities whose students attend Regional School Unit 1 schools.

An initial proposed budget for the school district slated Phippsburg to experience a 1.68 percent decrease in its share of the district’s 2012-13 budget, but the school board has since sought legal advice about whether the agreement that resulted in that share for Phippsburg should be maintained.

The RSU 1 board is expected to address that cost-sharing agreement at a meeting in Arrowsic, also scheduled for Monday night.

The Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee recommend using $600,000 of the town’s surplus of just less than $2 million to reduce the overall tax commitment for the coming fiscal year.

Among other proposed budget items Phippsburg voters will consider at their town meeting are:

— $120,000 from surplus to build a debris pad and related work around the transfer station.

— $18,000 — an increase of $13,000 over last year — for the Shellfish Conservation Commission account, to fund additional water testing in the Kennebec River.

— $15,000, instead of last year’s $8,000, for annual maintenance of town cemeteries, to fund increased road and grounds work.

— $9,000 for the 200th Anniversary Celebration Account

— $5,000 toward installation of synthetic turf at the McMann Field complex in Bath (Fields of our Future project).

Should voters approve the budget as proposed, it would not trigger any increase in the town’s property tax rate of $7.60 per $1,000 of valuation, according to Town Administrator Mike Young.

Elections

One day prior to town meeting, on Monday, April 30, voters will cast ballots at the Phippsburg Town Office to determine who will represent them on the Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee and as road commissioner.

Balloting that day also determine the outcome of a proposed land use ordinance.

Three candidates will compete to fill the term currently held by Selectman Lawrence Pye, who will vacate his seat after six years on the board.

Robin L. Barton of Hutchins Ice Pond Lane, Mark W. Hawkes of Bowker Road and Julia M. House will appear on the ballot as candidates for selectman.

Only former selectman Michael Rice is officially running for one of two seats on the town’s Budget Committee, although Betsy C. Varian notified town officials that she is a write-in candidate for the committee, Young said.

R. Curtis Doughty alone filed to run for a three-year term as road commissioner.

Voting will take place from 1:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 30 at the town office.

The annual town meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 1— and will continue at 6:30 p.m. May 2 if necessary.

bbrogan@timesrecord.com

Vote Preview

A candidates night and public hearings on the proposed 2013 municipal budget, warrant and proposed ordinance changes will take place Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Phippsburg Elementary School.