It took 82 Woolwich voters two hours to approve a $2.29 million 2022-2023 municipal budget at their annual town meeting Wednesday night, April 27. Attorney Ted Hoch served as moderator for the meeting held in the multi-purpose room of Woolwich Central School. The budget that passed includes cost of living raises for town employees including the town administrator/treasurer, and increased salaries of ambulance personnel making them more competitive with other area ambulance providers. Voters also went along with the select board’s recommendation for increasing licensing fees for businesses selling or cultivating recreational and medical marijuana.

One of the longest discussions was for earmarking funds to carry out a town-wide revaluation. Woolwich commercial and residential properties haven’t undergone one in 15 years; the state recommends one every seven to 10 years.

“The longer you delay the process, the more our tax ratio will drop and the less state reimbursement we’ll receive,” Selectmen’s Chairman David King Sr. explained. Voters raised the $100,000 recommended by the board for the revaluation adding another $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help pay for it. The article was amended by voters to require the private firm that’s hired to carry out the revaluation to hold an informational hearing on the process before it begins.

On a motion from King, voters agreed to increase the town’s undesignated fund balance from $1.4 million to $1.5 million. After making the motion, King explained the town’s auditor had recommended the increase which may or may not be needed in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2023.

Voters approved a $289,788 budget for the ambulance service that includes increasing the hourly rate paid to ambulance drivers from $12.75 to $14; emergency medical technicians from $14.50 to $17; advanced EMTs from $17.70 to $20; and paramedics from $20.50 to $23.

“We’re trying to remain competitive so we can continue to offer the community 24/7 ambulance coverage,” said EMS Director Brian Carlton. Woolwich first responders became the town’s full-time ambulance service in 2019. Voters amended the town’s EMS billing ordinance increasing the mileage rate charged for patient transports, from $14 to $16 per mile.

Without discussion voters went along with the select board’s recommendation to double the yearly licensing fees from $250 to $500 for marijuana manufacturing and cultivation facilities. They also agreed to increase first-time licensing fees for cultivation, retail and medical marijuana businesses from $250 to $1,000. A related fee for background checks was increased as well, from $30 to $50.

Voters rewarded workers at the town office with pay raises increasing the town administrator/treasurer’s pay from $58,100 up to $64,000, and both the town clerk and tax collector’s salary from $38,745 up to $42,600. Voters also agreed to increase the code enforcement officer’s pay from $28,366 to $30,040, and the stipend paid to the animal control officer from $6,000 to $8,000.

Other articles passed included: $240,226 for weekly curbside trash and recycling pickup, $876,476 for roads and bridges, $149,473 for the fire department and $60,303 for Patten Free Library of Bath.

This year’s Spirit of America Award went to the Nequasset Cemetery Committee for its many hours of dedication and hard work.