JAY — Selectpersons will hold a public hearing Tuesday, April 29, on a proposed $5.5 million municipal budget for 2014-15 and two ordinances that will go before voters June 10.

The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the library at Spruce Mountain High School in Jay. A regular selectpersons meeting will follow.

The board and Budget Committee cut $659,111 from the initial proposed budget of $6.2 million in March. The proposal is $501,341.93 less than the current $6 million budget.

After factoring in anticipated revenues, taxpayers would be asked to raise $3.9 million, which is $112,769.93 less than what was raised for the current municipal budget. The amount does not factor in the RSU 73 school budget or the town’s share of the Franklin County budget.

Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said in March that the proposed budget is a one-year plan until the outcome of Verso Paper Corp.’s mill and property valuation is known. Verso Androscoggin LLC requested a tax abatement in February of $469 million for 2013. The town values the mill and property at $929 million. The town is having a revaluation done on the mill and has until Dec. 1 to make a decision on the abatement request.

Capital reserve accounts took the biggest hit in the proposed budget. Several were reduced and some were eliminated during budget talks. The Highway Department’s budget was reduced by $110,000. Of that amount, $100,000 came from equipment reserve targeted for trucks and $10,000 came from the salt and sand line.

The capital paving budget was sliced in half to $225,000. A $130,000 project to replace sewer lines on Smith Avenue was axed from the budget proposal.

Residents will also be asked to consider a proposed Animal Control Ordinance that adds sections on barking dogs and treatment of animals, including horses.

They also will be asked to amend the subdivision section of the town’s Environmental Control and Improvement Ordinance. The amendments reduce the required size of a lot and required road frontage for properties that have town sewer.

It also will require a phosphorus control plan for any subdivision in the Great Pond watershed. The Great Ponds in the Jay area are Parker Pond in Jay, North Pond and Robinson Pond in Chesterville, and Pease Pond and Wilson Pond in Wilton.

Voters will have 47 articles to consider in June.

Absentee ballots will be available May 9 for the municipal budget and elections.

dperry@sunjournal.com