When voters head to the polls in June, they’ll have two articles to consider for funding the Wiscasset Ambulance Service.

One seeking $478,250 will provide 24/7 ambulance coverage, according to EMS director Toby Martin. The other asks for $415,840 and does not guarantee 24/7 coverage. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday night, with selectmen Judy Colby and David Cherry and vice chairman Judy Flanagan in favor of putting both articles on the warrant. Selectman Jeff Slack and Chairman Ben Rines Jr. opposed having two articles.

The discussion took up a good deal of what turned out to be a four-hour meeting also attended by the budget committee. Both boards will meet again this week, separately this time when the warrant is finalized. Selectmen will convene at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28 in the town office while the budget committee will meet the following night, also at 5.

Selectmen are facing a May 2 deadline to complete the warrant that will include a non-binding vote on the Maine Department of Transportation’s proposed downtown traffic improvements. Wording of the question will be finalized later this week. The board also plans a warrant question for installing solar panels on the municipal building and town garage.

Unable to decide which ambulance budget to put before voters, Colby suggested including both. “Let the townspeople decide,” she said.

Flanagan acknowledged either option was a significant increase from last year’s $295,187 ambulance budget. “It’s huge but we’ll have full-time paramedics on duty,” she commented.

In recent years the ambulance service has struggled in finding enough volunteers to offer round-the-clock coverage, seven days a week. Projected revenues from the ambulance department were in the range of $230,000.

“If Alna can do it (have ambulance coverage) for $4,000 why is Wiscasset spending $400,000,” Rines asked, saying the question is sure to come up.

“That’s a poor comparison,” responded John Merry of the budget committee. Alna town meeting voters recently agreed to switch from Wiscasset Ambulance Service to Central Lincoln County (CLC) Ambulance in Damariscotta.

“I’m willing to bet the townspeople will vote for the lower article,” Cherry said, but he too favored leaving the decision to the townspeople.

When asked for her opinion, Town Manager Marion Anderson said it wasn’t uncommon to give voters a choice between two amounts. “People know what matters to them, so I think they’ll vote for the amount they think is best,” she said.

“Some people won’t be comfortable voting for either amount,” Slack commented.

“It’s asking for trouble,” added Rines.

Selectmen did not make a recommendation for either ambulance amount but may revisit the issue Thursday night.

In another lengthy discussion, selectmen separated the amount budgeted for a school resource officer from the $425,603 police budget. The position will instead be considered in a separate article. Slack voted against recommending the police budget. He insisted voters consider the SRO position separately. Colby and Flanagan felt the SRO position was greatly needed. Cherry disagreed.

The board voted unanimously to recommend a fire department budget of $137,173 that will include $9,000 for supplemental health insurance for firemen. The request to include the insurance was made by the fire chief.

Selectmen unanimously recommended the budgets for parks and recreation, $737,263; public works, $679,944,  transfer station $555,873 and $555,873 for the treatment plant.

On a motion from Slack the board held the line on the airport budget at $283,175, the same amount as last year. The town manager noted the airport generated $260,000 in revenues last year.

The discussion bogged down during a review of capital expenditures. The board included $30,000 to cover the cost of a new police cruiser until insurance money is received for the cruiser totaled in an accident. Another $30,000 will be sought to lease a backhoe for the highway department. Capital expenditures total $486,430 and will again be on the warrant as separate articles.

Separate articles will also appear for donations to community organizations. They total $74,433, most of which is $62,500 to help fund the Wiscasset Public Library. Cherry abstained from making a recommendation on the library article. Selectmen voted 3-2 against recommending a $3,000 donation to Lincoln County TV. Rines, Cherry and Slack were in opposition.

The board removed $3,000 budgeted in contractual services for Internet live streaming of selectmen meetings. This too, will be voted on as a separate article. Rines and Colby voted against recommending it.