TOPSHAM

Officials have readied a 2013-14 municipal budget proposal that would produce a 3.7 percent property tax increase using current estimates.

At a public hearing tonight, residents will have the opportunity to comment on a draft Town Meeting warrant that, in sum, proposes spending nearly $8.5 million — $388,779, or 4.8 percent, more than the current year.

Selectmen and the Finance Committee agreed on recommendations for all budget articles.

Town Manager Cornell Knight said if the county budget stays at the projected 2.8 percent increase and the School Administrative District 75 budget comes in with a projected 5 percent increase, the town estimates taxpayers would see a 3.7 percent increase in property tax — from $16.21 to $16.81 per $1,000 of assessed value.

One of the proposed warrant articles asks residents to authorize municipal officers to apply for a $240,000 Community Development Block Grant, without a required local match, for Maine Harvest

Co.

The company — a private startup seeking to establish a local farm products distribution processing facility at the former commissary property at Topsham Commerce Park — would have to create a certain number of jobs at certain wages to be eligible for the funds.

A memo from John Shattuck, the town’s economic and community development director, said one of the company’s co-owners is a Topsham resident.

The company’s food hub is being developed as a facility “for washing, light processing, packaging and refrigerating/ freezing local farm products. It will purchase products directly from local farmers and aggregate them for sale to high volume buyers.”

The location of the business in partnership with real estate developer JHR Development, “provides an exceptional opportunity to stimulate further development at Topsham Commerce Park,” Shattuck said.

Knight said money for a new sweeper is included for the public works department. It would replace a 20-year-old machine using surplus funds.

The town has also budgeted $61,000 for a school resource officer at Mt. Ararat High School, a position that would get $39,000 from SAD 75. Knight said the school has to support its share of the position or it won’t be filled. The officer would start Sept. 1.

Also included in the $8,469,465 municipal budget: 3 percent raises for town employees.

Topsham also pays a portion of the Sagadahoc County and SAD 75 budgets, but those sums will not be known until their budgets are finalized in June.

Other draft warrant articles ask residents to:

— Accept Serenity Lane off West Merrill Road as a public road;

— Adopt an ordinance amendment to clarify the appeals process regarding Planning Board decisions;

— Amend the town’s zoning map and rezone five lots along U.S. Route 201, from Residential 3 to Rural Commercial Uses, as requested by the landowner;

— Approve an ordinance clarifying operating rules of town parks and trails; and

— Amend the building permit fee schedule.

Some permit fees would be increased and some fees and new ones would be added per square foot for open structures. There would be a minimum fee set per project.

Selectmen tonight also will consider appointing Peter Davison to the Historic District

Commission and may act on the town’s annual contract with the Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick.

Tonight’s meeting is 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 100 Main St.

Town Meeting is May 15.

dmoore@timesrecord.com