WINTHROP -- The group that keeps tabs on the environmental health of lakes and ponds in the Cobbossee watershed will hold its annual meeting and vote on the budget for the upcoming year at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Winthrop Middle School cafeteria.

William Monagle, executive director of the Cobbossee Watershed District, said at least 25 registered voters from the district -- which encompasses eight municipalities -- are needed for a vote on the proposed annual operating budget of almost $224,000.

The budget is almost $10,000 higher than the current year's expenses.

Monagle said work includes monitoring 20 of the district's 28 lakes, from May to October.

"It helps us keep our finger on the environmental pulse of our lakes," he said.

The district has done several lake restoration projects, and coordinates water level management with dam operators to maintain standards.

The municipalities will be asked to provide almost $185,000 in funds, which they pay through a municipal assessment.

That assessment shows a 6 percent increase this year -- or about $10,000.

Municipal assessments as proposed in the district's 2008-09 fiscal year budget are broken down in the following way:

* Gardiner: $5,801.74

* Litchfield: $28,274.09

* Manchester: $21,533.24

* Monmouth: $35,390.22

* Readfield: $17,413.84

* Richmond: $3,932.15

* Wayne: $2,059.73

* Winthrop: $70,591.59

The Winthrop Utilities District is assessed $6,892.88.

This year, Glenn Hodgkins from the U.S. Geological Survey will be guest speaker and will discuss climate change and the effect on New England lakes and ponds over the past two centuries.

His talk will follow the budget vote.

The district has one full-time employee and two part-time workers.

The district is seeking to re-establish a second full-time position, probably by September, Monagle said.

The district was created by the Legislature 35 years ago to protect and conserve the lakes and ponds in the watershed, and works with towns.

The first budget meeting was in 1973.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com