Woolwich selectmen are close to finalizing their 2018-19 budget; included are proposed cost of living increases of up to two percent for the town administrator and town clerk.

The town hopes to fill the tax collector vacancy soon. At the start of the meeting, the board met briefly in executive session to review applications for the position.

The board approved the $44,000 ambulance budget presented by EMS Director Brian Carlton, increasing his annual stipend from $3,000 to $3,500.

Voters will also be asked to approve an article authorizing the town to charge fees for ambulance services. King explained the department has always charged but must get approval. Selectman Jason Shaw felt income generated by the ambulance department should go directly into the general fund rather then the fire/EMS budget. King wants the EMS article to state how much revenue the ambulance service had generated over the last year.

Voters will be asked to raise $192,868 for curbside solid waste and recycling pick-up, a $2,000 increase over last year. Patten Free Library in Bath has requested a $54,344 contribution for 2018-19 – an increase of $1,076. The amount sought for contracted assessing rose $600 to $26,700.

Selectmen reduced the town office’s miscellaneous line from $6,500 to $3,750. They cut monies budgeted for part-time office services in half from $10,000 to $5,000. Voters will be asked to raise $6,000 for animal control, the same as last year.

At least three special articles are planned for the warrant. Selectmen will recommend $7,000 be raised for the future buyout of ReVision’s solar network. The town has the option to purchase the system recently installed at the former landfill in year seven of its operation. Another article will authorize the select board to take up to $50,000 from the undesignated fund balance to cover costs associated with federal or state declared emergencies. If passed, the article would eliminate the cost of holding special town meetings to get authorization.

Voters will also be asked to earmark up to $15,000 from the yearly Comcast franchise fees to purchase an electronic informational sign. This would replace a hand-lettered sign destroyed in the October windstorm. The sign would be located on Route 1 near the town office.

The board will meet to review the fire department budget Tuesday, Feb. 20. A special town meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. the same evening with a regular select board meeting to follow in the hearing room.