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Westport Island voters approve budget, $750,000 bond and dozens of warrant articles
Summary
Voters at Westport Island’s town meeting approved the municipal spending plan, capital reserve appropriations and a $750,000 bond for road improvements; dozens of other warrant articles — including deed transfers and contingency funds — also passed.
Westport Island — Voters at the town meeting approved the Select Board’s proposed municipal budget and a slate of warrant articles, including authorization to issue up to $750,000 in general obligation bonds to fund Phase 4 of the town’s road improvement plan.
The meeting opened with the town clerk, April (Town Clerk), announcing logistics and reading the warrant. Officials reported election results from June 9: the town selected a moderator for the election and Sherry (Sharon) Nelson was sworn in as a Select Board member after winning the three‑year seat. Residents also approved the RSU 12 school budget, 223 to 78 with 11 blanks, as reported by the clerk.
Why it matters: The bond and related appropriations will fund several named road segments and maintain the capital program the town expects to carry over the next multi‑year cycle. Town leaders said the bond, paired with existing reserves, is intended to stagger large projects and preserve a $1,000,000 donation set aside for future major work.
Discussion and key votes: Moderators and presenters detailed the budget drivers, saying overall municipal spending increased about 4.5% year‑to‑year; presenters estimated the budget‑driven mill‑rate change in the 3.6–4.5% range depending on valuation changes. The assembly approved Article 3 (general fund appropriation) and a string of capital and operating articles allocating money for archival conservation, facilities maintenance, contingency, and other town functions. Notable results included Article 9, which voters approved as moved to raise $30,000 for a municipal legal fund after a failed amendment to reduce the amount to $15,000. At Article 30, voters authorized the Select Board to issue bonds or notes up to $750,000 to fund phase 4 of the road plan; the moderator confirmed the required fiscal statements were available before the vote.
Property and fire department actions: The meeting also approved two deed transfers from the volunteer fire department that move the deed for the fire station parcel and a cistern property into the town’s name to streamline insurance and grant eligibility. Select Board and the fire chief said the transfers keep the original intent — continued fire‑service use — and were amended in the meeting to clarify that the cistern property, not just the system, is conveyed.
What’s next: Many passed articles create or supplement capital reserve funds and authorize the Select Board to act on implementation. Officials said follow‑up work — contracts, engineering studies, and grant applications tied to the approved bond and capital funds — will proceed according to the Select Board’s timetable.
