PHIPPSBURG

Voters on Tuesday night trimmed roughly $51,000 from the municipal budget as recommended by selectmen and the Budget Committee.

With 141 residents in attendance, the proposed municipal budget was reduced from $1,554,926 to $1,503,929. That’s still an increase of $90,450.00 (6.4 percent) over last year. It was voted to take $650,000 from undesignated funds to reduce taxes.

This increase in municipal budget will be offset by the decrease of $315,403 in the Regional School Unit 1 cost share this year. Taking Sagadahoc County’s projected percent increase into consideration, it should result in an overall decrease in mil rate from $7.75 to $7.60 per $1,000 in assessed property value, which was the same mil rate the town had in fiscal year 2011 and 2012 after the property revaluation was completed.

John Morse served as moderator.

Gloria Barnes was honored for her five years of service as town clerk and her husband, David Barnes, was honored for his 38 years of service as health officer and 41 years of service as election warden.

Residents declined to appropriate money for Patten Free Library in Bath. A motion was made to reduce the amount to $20,000, which failed. A motion was made and passed to cut off debate. Then the original amount of $35,493 was defeated by a 79-51 vote.

The following awards presented over the past year were mentioned:

— Fire and Rescue Auxiliary received the “Spirit of America Award.”

— Phippsburg Conservation Commission received an “Award of Recognition” from the Maine Chapter of the Wildlife Commission.”

— Town of Phippsburg received the “Supreme Award” from Maine Municipal Association for the 2012 Town Report.

— Police Chief John Skroski received the State of Maine American Legion “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” Award.

Voters decreased municipal health insurance from $21,000 to $10,500 Although health insurance is provided, no employees take it because they have other coverage. This appropriation is just in case someone decides to take town health insurance at a later date.

Residents decreased funds for winter roads maintenance from $180,000 to $172,000 because of an $8,000 balance left in the account.

A $30,000 appropriation for construction of a boat ramp at the Acre Lot Town Landing failed, 61-52.

An article to appropriate $4,000 in funding to replace the current school sign with an electronic sign passed. This will be a cost shared over two years between the town, RSU 1, the Recreation Commission and the School PTA. Total cost of the sign will be approximately $20,000 of which the town and RSU 1 will each pay $8,000, and the Recreation Commission will pay $4,000. The PTA will pay whatever it is able to raise.