[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6198349,"mediaKeyId","3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d","parentId",3847031,"title","Buckfield Select Board accepts Kosno Real Estate proposal to list tax-acquired property","audioSeconds",64,"startMs",140000,"endMs",204000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d&start=140&end=204","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d/thumbnail_140000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6198349/Maine/Buckfield-Select-Board-accepts-Kosno-Real-Estate-proposal-to-list-tax-acquired-property","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198349-4f3995ab7e815fb9e0c74626a5aa1f63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155139&Signature=UHJZPorfcwfD1WFwgZrpgH~NryogJy5wBoo1PTDVLH4VPvXefn8QB34GKFoJARp4pDacwK3XfDgbrhF32-4-0J6r2dyQaQqLsypGsxr2xjePN-eOrdfnlWWYlcxl8WJWSUmSXK4RxK-LtczVfreIOOLT6qqBj45SRpRvIaKa2ac3pukfrGEE2-K1tSN8yStZBecRe0gz9wDpK3qlNPNrvJmTu7NBwJf~zHKi3se-j24b6MEtnXXWX~52NQPOV9Ip5d4LDD9qNV0qtNe3Lxg6PI9gGRgk07f6UJPESyvxYNfWWswgQQFFU3gQy8iP77X-YAUePCvGLqn0CEM6IQ6SeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Buckfield","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Town of Buckfield Select Board on May 27 voted to accept a listing proposal from Kosno Real Estate, brokered by Real Broker LLC, to market a tax-acquired property (filed as FP25-01).

A board member moved to accept the proposal and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members noted the town received only one proposal and that any sale of tax-acquired property would ultimately require board approval of offers and follow the town’s tax-acquired property sale process.

Town staff summarized the broker’s terms: ‘‘Their rate was 3% of the sale price with a minimum commission of $3,000 per listing,’’ and staff cautioned that ‘‘that process could take up to a year’’ from initial listing to completion of a sale and transfer. The board confirmed that individual sale decisions and acceptance of offers would return to the board for formal approval.

Board members thanked the proposer and noted the timing: the town has issued 90-day letters on several properties and does not expect immediate sales before the statutory process concludes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Buckfield Select Board Meeting - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Select Board voted May 27 to accept a single broker proposal to list a tax-acquired property; the broker’s commission is 3% of the sale price with a $3,000 minimum and any sale would be managed through the board and could take up to a year.","taxTitle","Town of Buckfield, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",61135,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6198356,"Buckfield clarifies 'perpetual care' limits for Damon Cemetery, warns volunteers or budget increase needed",231,1227000,1458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d&start=1227&end=1458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d/thumbnail_1227000.jpg","/articles/6198356/Maine/Buckfield-clarifies-perpetual-care-limits-for-Damon-Cemetery-warns-volunteers-or-budget-increase-needed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198356-48ac8bcaf916b0f3a608a12cadff2616/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155139&Signature=hCnlm61qfLUZDimnh0bwK2-zLZuW~BeVi255t9DPE1WZBuzmpqWvHLRyE7Weg~WhqNlEiBQek01vsxnFPCFhxndME0kco4GfRU7qxJJN1Kga1ANkjgBcDprlOd0t-y3fqgMwwVtgfF5a1rUIxDJbnq6WG31XCzGGppG~KmNGXu93R9WfTFHEMjNYFZ~qaLX0zGf9pyxOVZ~Eramb7uhxneogEwNYmioqkzQ97gUQAdjeUYDuxtHR7Z-p-Co~B0j24wyK0V2WeiqyEhyo0YA~AC8c3UZC3nnI6bHyydmWN75lRhBX64HiG-hes8Z6GN9yxUdwMDJbF7QnyHFiKUBXew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff and the Buckfield Select Board discussed Damon Cemetery maintenance and the limits of “perpetual care” at the May 27 meeting, urging residents to volunteer or support a budget increase if they want more frequent or higher-level maintenance.

Public works staff described ‘‘perpetual care’’ on a new town webpage as ‘‘mowing. It's weed whacking, grass, seeds when it's needed, filling in low spots, the general maintenance of the facility. It does not include headstone repair.’’ The board and staff said headstone repairs and extensive restoration are not covered by perpetual care and that the town lacks funds and staff time to perform that work.

Town staff provided numbers to show the gap between current funding and demand: the cemetery perpetual trust fund balance is $62,323 and last year’s trust income was $3,143. Last year’s cemetery line in the town budget was about $11,000. Staff estimated two people mowing and weed-whacking the cemetery require roughly 40 labor hours, which they put at about $1,700 in wages and employment taxes for that work; that figure does not include blades, trimmer line or other consumables.

Staff said the Maine statute governing sale of cemetery lots directs that 30% of a lot sale proceeds be deposited to the perpetual trust fund; income from that trust pays for perpetual care. The town’s professional care fund, staff said, currently covers mowing roughly twice a year and no significant stone restoration or heavy maintenance work.

Because the ground was wet on Memorial Day weekend, staff said recent mowing created ruts in the cemetery; they defended the crew’s work given weather and a small crew and said they will avoid mowing in wet conditions to prevent further damage. Staff asked lot owners who are able to maintain individual plots (push-mower or hand trimming) to help and invited residents to form an ad hoc cemetery committee to explore options, including budgeting for hired contractors to move decorations and perform more intensive work.

The board clarified operational expectations: crews will avoid moving numerous decorations and will typically leave a 4–6 inch buffer around items to prevent damage; if the community wants crews to move decorations and perform more detailed maintenance, that service would need to be explicitly budgeted and paid for.

The board encouraged volunteers and thanked schoolchildren and other residents who helped with raking and cleanup earlier in the month. No formal board vote changed cemetery policy at the meeting; board members said they could form an ad hoc committee if residents express interest.

","Town staff explained what the cemetery perpetual care fund covers, disclosed the trust balance and recurring costs, and urged residents to volunteer or accept a higher budget to increase service levels.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6198361,"Buckfield signs RSU 10 warrant as ad hoc committee advances referendum, possible withdrawal steps",528,392000,920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d&start=392&end=920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847031-ead0386a09f4738f59fdc4246aac020d/thumbnail_392000.jpg","/articles/6198361/Maine/Buckfield-signs-RSU-10-warrant-as-ad-hoc-committee-advances-referendum-possible-withdrawal-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6198361-69815d8e9247543809e569f1afa67337/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155139&Signature=ez7wx-U5u8UYJ3nfFJcjISchRJX2tHs1s4IiZTbNMmjeDQbaK4Lj~1uOb6s8Y8AJzYmJSZduaMxvPmEZg6HuV~mCqjyAPnkmDii2KceozdLOdiQ-mnylHBnBR3DibDxFzzBJIzKLvAyE17a3RLFQDj~jLE6ISL8-Tgqf4CDMF5QJ2ABtUnVjYHvbvKY3tVRACRqSI64jOd4zvS5ya-kImF~Wt~weVhqypkjHH8UX2NQfYpsCjWhhmS4DiFEJNOnm3d5Ul0wpZnWBX1PG5ecSAirs1LqYABJMgpEifocaxrbzrp9m-5ISaqVkBF1sEIJZurqN8lmAP-fNeqpJ4CDOqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of Buckfield Select Board on May 27 voted to countersign the RSU 10 budget validation referendum warrant for the June 10 vote and heard a report from an ad hoc education exploration committee about district finances and a possible withdrawal process.

The countersignature allows the RSU 10 warrant to be posted for the June 10 validation referendum. The board took the countersignature by motion and voice vote; Marshall seconded the motion and the board approved it unanimously.

Committee chair Neil (listed on the meeting materials as lead of the ad hoc group) told the board the figures residents will consider at the district meeting and on the June ballot will be set at the RSU 10 annual budget meeting the night before the validation referendum. He described two categories of costs in the district budget — “known” costs specifically assigned to schools and “unknown” or systemwide costs such as transportation and utilities that are not broken down by individual buildings — and said the committee used several allocation methods to estimate the town’s share.

Neil provided Buckfield-specific numbers: the state-mandated allocation for Buckfield is $1,115,995 and the additional amount the district is asking the town to raise is $947,394.49, for a total local share of $2,063,389.49. He said that represents an 8.832% increase for Buckfield on the figures used in the committee’s analysis.

The committee outlined next steps should residents want to pursue withdrawal from RSU 10: the first step would be petitions in each of the three member towns (Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford). ‘‘At some point, we’re gonna need to start a petition,’’ Neil said, adding that all three towns must pass the petition for the withdrawal process to proceed. If all three petitions pass, the group would recommend hiring legal counsel to begin formal withdrawal work; Neil estimated an independent ED279 calculation by the state (the education subsidy reporting form) could cost roughly $40,000 and would likely be required in later steps.

Committee members and board members stressed that the RSU 10 annual budget meeting (where residents can move to change line items) is the only immediate opportunity to affect the dollar amounts that appear on the validation referendum ballot. ‘‘Tomorrow is the only time where we can affect change,’’ Neil said, describing how motions at the district meeting alter individual articles and line items.

Discussion also covered federal and state education funding numbers: the committee used an estimated federal contribution of about $2,500 per pupil and a working pupil count of 507 across the three schools to model revenue; members said a more precise ED279 run for the three-school configuration would produce a definitive state subsidy figure.

The board did not take formal action on withdrawal at the May 27 meeting; the committee said it will ask the board in a future meeting to authorize a petition process in Buckfield if volunteers can be found to gather signatures. The committee posted its supporting documents to a public Google Drive and linked them on the town website and plans public information sessions in Sumner and Hartford.

The discussion closed with the board thanking the committee for its work and encouraging residents to attend the RSU 10 annual budget meeting and the June 10 referendum vote.

","At its May 27 meeting the Town of Buckfield Select Board countersigned the RSU 10 budget validation referendum warrant and heard a detailed report from an ad hoc education exploration committee outlining budget numbers, a possible petition process for withdrawal from RSU 10 and next steps for public engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Buckfield Select Board accepts Kosno Real Estate proposal to list tax-acquired property

Buckfield clarifies 'perpetual care' limits for Damon Cemetery, warns volunteers or budget increase needed

Buckfield signs RSU 10 warrant as ad hoc committee advances referendum, possible withdrawal steps