PERU — Town Clerk Vera Parent told selectmen Monday that tax bills will be delayed because the school budget did not pass.

Residents of Peru, Canton, Carthage and Dixfield rejected the proposed $13.2 million spending plan for 2017-18 by a total vote of 375-596 on June 13.

“The tax bills will go out after the Aug. 8 school validation vote,” she said.

She told selectmen she’s been getting frequent calls from residents asking about the delayed bills, but the tax rate cannot be determined until a budget for Regional School Unit 56 is passed.

A meeting and initial vote on the budget is set for July 27 at the school. A vote to validate the new $12.5 million budget is set for Aug. 8 at polling stations in the towns of Dixfield, Carthage, Canton and Peru.

In other news, Road Commissioner Brad Hutchings reported to the board that five trees on Hammond Hill Road that have hindered ditching efforts will be removed, after receiving the landowner’s permission.

He said he and his crew replaced the damaged culvert on Mineral Springs Road, and posted signs on both ends of East Shore Road to inform drivers of the dates and times of the road work that’s scheduled, which is Mondays and Tuesdays from 6:30 a.m to 4 p.m beginning July 31.

Hutchings said drivers should expect delays but not total road closures.

“We’ll try to always keep one lane open,” he said.

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

Selectmen Carol Roach and John Witherell attend the Peru Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday evening at the Town Office.