WATERBORO — The fire department is looking to make a new hire so that during most hours of a 24-hour day, there will be a supervisor on duty. As well, the department is looking for a part-time administrative assistant to take care of required paperwork.

There is $162,090 earmarked in the town’s capital plan for engineering and road upgrades; and $25,000 for engineering and planning for a sand and salt shed, among other expenditures recommended by selectmen.

Those are some of the highlights of the $4.7 million municipal budget voters will consider at Town Meeting, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16 at Massabesic Middle School. About $2.4 million of the budget is proposed to come from taxation, the remainder comes from a variety of sources, including surplus, excise taxes and rescue billings. Article 28, for example, which deals with the road commissioner’s budget, is proposed at $920,000, up from $688,800 in 2011, and includes significantly more funds for seal coating and tar than in 2011. If the article passes as proposed by selectmen, most of the tab will be paid from excise tax.

The $4.7 million budget represents selectmen’s recommendations. Some items they approved were labeled “ought not to pass” by the finance committee.

Selectmen two weeks ago estimated passage of the proposed municipal budget could raise the $12 per $1,000 tax rate by about 76-78 cents ”“ a figure that doesn’t include any increases that could come from Regional School Unit 57 or York County government. Assessor Jerry Daigle at the time said the town’s valuation might increase by about $2 million, which could result in a few cents less of a hike than selectmen’s projections. Town Administrator Nancy Brandt on Friday said she expects to have a firmer figure on the tax rate for Town Meeting.

Selectwoman Tammy-Jo Girard, at a selectman’s meeting two weeks ago, projected a 78-cent tax rate increase would increase the tax on a $150,000 home by $117.

Town elections are Tuesday, June 12. Selectman Gordon Littlefield and RSU 57 Director Heather Silva, both incumbents, are unopposed in their bids for re-election. Voters will also cast ballots on the RSU 57 budget. Voting is 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Massabesic Middle School.

Fire Chief Matthew Bors earlier this week said hiring a supervising firefighter/EMT will provide for better coverage, and the supervisory aspect of the position means someone with accountability and experience would always be on hand to take charge of volunteers, junior firefighters and students who live at the fire house.

The fire department currently employs four full-time personnel and relies on per diem and volunteers. If the position, at a salary of $36,700, is approved, personnel would work two, rotating 10-hour shifts and two 14-hour shifts.

The part-time administrative assistant position is earmarked at a salary of $18,850. That individual would help with the paperwork involved with a volunteer department of more than 60 people, Bors said.

Girard, at the May 29 meeting where selectmen unanimously voted to approve the warrant, said the prospect of a 78-cent increase “is difficult for me.”

Selectman Dennis Abbott pointed out that more than half the increase could be attributed to road repairs because less money had been put into the town’s road system for the past four or five years.

Littlefield said he shared Girard’s concerns.

“I think this budget provides a catalyst for people to go out and vote at Town Meeting,” he said. “We’ve been cutting the budget for so long we’ve dug ourselves into a hole. We’ve got to get back to a level playing field.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.