After holding property taxes near their 2017 level, the Wiscasset Select Board is looking ahead to 2018. Town Manager Marian Anderson told the board Tuesday night she’s begun looking into the board’s directive to trim $500,000 from the town budget.

“What you’re looking at is about a 10 percent reduction in the municipal budget,” she said. Anderson then asked if the board had any specific areas where cuts might be made or savings might be found.

“You may no longer want to fund community organizations. Maybe you’re thinking about eliminating or reducing a department,” she said, handing the board a working draft to use as a starting point.

Selectman Bob Blagden said it would be helpful knowing what revenues are anticipated within each department. “I hope the focus will be on where we’re budgeting more money than what a department actually needs,” he said.

Anderson suggested the board meet with the Budget Committee to discuss what areas of the budget to focus on in the months ahead in preparation for the 2018-19 budget.

Also Tuesday, the board signed the 2017-18 tax commitment. Property taxes will increase less than one-half of one percent. The new tax rate is $18.76 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Tax bills will be in the mail soon; the first payment is due Oct. 27.

The board put off a decision on a request by Police Chief Jeff Lange to purchase a photo ID maker. Lange said he could finance the unit through monies the department collects from issuing concealed weapon permits.

The system would enable the department to issue the permits with a photo ID. Lange said many police agencies are already using the systems. He told the board it could also be used to provide photo IDs to town employees, for shellfish licenses, or for anyone else in need of a photo ID.

Since January, the department has collected $797 from conducting background checks for concealed weapon permits, Lange said. He anticipates another $500 in revenue by the end of the calendar year. The cost of the system is $3,212, based on a quote from last year.

Selectman Ben Rines Jr. said he rather consider this for next year’s police budget. Selectman Jeff Slack said he’d prefer to hold off, as well.

Wiscasset’s town clock needs repairs. Rick Balzer of the Freeport-based Balzer Family Clock Works said the clock hasn’t been getting the monthly maintenance it requires. Balzer said the tower housing the clock also needs maintenance. The building where the clock is located is privately owned and for sale. The building is kept locked, making maintenance of the clock challenging. The town owns the clock but there’s some question as to who’s responsible for maintenance of the tower.

The town office will research the deed and have the tower inspected. The board put off a decision on what to do about the clock.

After hearing a presentation from John Carroll of Central Mane Power, the board agreed to lend its support to the company’s Clean Energy Connect proposal. If CMP wins the contract, a portion of the project includes upgrading the transmission grid from the Coopers Mills substation to Maine Yankee. The upgrade would use the existing 26-mile corridor. Wiscasset would share in the tax benefits of the new transmission grid.

Shaye Paradis was appointed to the Budget Committee.

             Monthly department reports

The police department responded to 382 calls in August; 104 were for property checks; there were 54 motor vehicle stops. Wiscasset Ambulance Service responded to 96 calls last month, according to EMS Director Toby Martin; 57 were in Wiscasset, 14 in Edgecomb and eight in Dresden. Public Works Director Doug Fowler said close to 3.75 miles of roads were resurfaced this summer.

Fire Chief T. J. Merry said his department has spent about half of its fleet budget for repairs to Engine 6, chaise inspections and pump tests required of fire trucks. He wanted the select board to know, that line of his budget may soon be over-drafted.