TOPSHAM

At the annual town meeting tonight at Mt. Ararat High School, Topsham residents are set to vote on a 23-article warrant — including an overall $11.77 million municipal budget expected to decrease the town’s total tax request in 2017-18.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the high school commons. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The proposed $11,770,174 municipal budget represents a 9.9 percent increase. However, the budget is expected to decrease taxes, according to Town Manager Rich Roedner.

While some of the budget lines show large increases — such as the capital program which will increase by $875,300 to $1.6 million — the majority of that money already exists and won’t be raised through taxes. There are also some significant reductions, and in most cases the changes are due to money being moved to different budget lines.

The selectmen propose to take $1 million from the fund balance, putting half in the capital budget and use the other half as revenue to provide tax relief.

Selectmen propose to demolish the old fire station in the Lower Village and replace the storage capacity there by building a storage facility at the public works department for $180,000.

Another $220,000 will allow the town to upgrade software needed to run the town.

The proposed budget does not include funding requested by service agencies.

Proposed budgets for Sagadahoc County and School Administrative District 75 combined with the municipal budget would increase Topsham’s net tax commitment by $436,751 or 2.46 percent. Combined with the proposed municipal budget, Topsham’s tax rate would increase an estimated 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or $100 for a home assessed at $200,000.

Highland Green is seeking to amend its existing 28-year TIF agreement to include only the portion of the retirement community already built out. It seeks a new 175-acre TIF district for the portion undeveloped. The project lost time while stymied by the recession.

There is also a proposed 180-day moratorium on retail marijuana establishments, retail marijuana stores and retail marijuana social clubs. Stalling any such projects, made legal by a citizen initiative passed by Mainers in November, allows planners to develop local rules and regulations to protect the health and safety, in conjunction with the state’s rule making process, Roedner said.

There are also proposed changes to the town’s sign ordinance, to comply with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, that removes content based regulations for signs that aren’t commercial.

Other proposed ordinance changes would amend the minimum standards for off street parking, and allow alternative parking standards; allow parking within buildings and increase the overall building height to 50 feet in the Mixed Use Limited Zone, add standards to the urban impaired stream watershed to adhere to Maine Department of Environmental Protection stormwater management standards.

An amendment to the Vernal Pool Overlay District gives owners of land within this district the option to develop their property and allow enhanced protection of other vernal pools through payment of a mitigation fee or through mitigation activities.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Tally in Topsham

• PROPOSED budgets for Sagadahoc County and School Administrative District 75 combined with the municipal budget would increase Topsham’s net tax commitment by $436,751 or 2.46 percent. Combined with the proposed municipal budget, Topsham’s tax rate would increase an estimated 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.