Alna First Selectman David Abbott said he hopes the Maine Legislature fends off some funding changes Gov. Paul LePage is eying that could affect towns' incomes.

“I'm thankful there's some checks and balances,” Abbott said of the state budget process at a January 24 selectmen's meeting.

Alna stands to lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenue sharing and other areas if LePage's plans are approved, Abbott said.

“Hopefully, the Legislature will have enough sense to override him,” Abbott said. He also criticized how the governor discusses issues, saying LePage doesn't think before he speaks. “It's radical.” Abbott said.

“If LePage runs again, I'm not voting for him,” he said.

“I agree with you he sometimes has a difficult time articulating,” Third Selectman David Reingardt said.

But Reingardt and Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve did not voice opinions on LePage's ideas for funding cuts. It's too soon, they said.

“It's a proposed plan, which means nothing,” Reingardt said,

“I wouldn't say it's nothing if he somehow pushes it through,” Abbott said.

However, all three board members agreed there are still too many unknowns about the potential changes to consider them in the budget the board is preparing for the annual town meeting March 16.

A temporary elimination of revenue sharing doesn’t have to equate to increased property taxes, LePage’s press secretary Adrienne Bennett said. Towns can instead choose to set priorities and find areas to save in their budgets, just as LePage worked to do while mayor of Waterville, Bennett said January 25.

“There are ways to do it, but you have to think outside the box,” she said.

Revenue sharing is on the table due to cuts in federal dollars the state receives, Bennett added.

Savings on fire station loan

Town Treasurer Honora Perkins has gotten the interest rate lowered by about two percent on the town's loan for the fire station addition.

Abbott praised Perkins for successfully negotiating the lower rate with Damariscotta Bank and Trust.

Reached January 25, Perkins did not immediately have available the old and new rates, or a projection on the town's savings under the lower rate.

Voters approved a $200,000 loan in 2009 to add onto and renovate the station on Route 218. Reserve funds and a $160,000 anonymous donation covered the rest of the project's costs.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.