RANDOLPH -- The Budget Committee and selectmen can't seem to agree on how to spend taxpayer money.

The differences of opinion will go to residents tonight at their annual town meeting, at 7 p.m. at T.C. Hamlin School.

Selectmen disagreed with the Budget Committee on how to fund the use of the Gardiner library; road maintenance, paving and sidewalk repair; spring junk cleanup; replacing public works vehicles; and paying for the town's Web site and newsletter.

Peter Coughlan, vice chairman of the Budget Committee, said it was the first time the Budget Committee had to hold six meetings to review a spending proposal from selectmen.

"When we went through the first cut, we found it was $150,000 over from where we wanted to be," Coughlan said Tuesday. "From that point on, we said we've got to go back and look at individual articles, and at the expenditures, so the tax commitment wouldn't be so great. We never had six Budget Committee meetings before, but we needed to do it."

In the end, many of the recommendations were different than the Board of Selectmen, he said.

"It was all in the name of keeping taxes down as best we can, realizing the impact we're all going through these days with fuel and gas and everything else," Coughlan said.

The differences:

* Selectmen recommend $2,500 to start a dedicated account for future replacement of vehicles; the Budget Committee recommends $1,000.

* Selectmen recommend $40,000 for road maintenance; the Budget Committee, $35,000 for culverts, patching and ditching, the same amount as last year.

* Selectmen recommend $6,500 for General Assistance; the Budget Committee, $5,000. Part of this amount is salary for former Selectwoman Gloria Mansir-Fitzherbert to administer this program for needy residents. But Budget Committee members believe selectmen can handle the program themselves.

* Selectmen recommend $531,670 for general government services; the Budget Committee, $512,950.

* Selectmen recommend $5,000 for spring junk cleanup; the Budget Committee, $1,500.

* Selectmen recommend $821 -- up $136 from last year -- to operate the town's Web site; the Budget Committee recommends no money.

Selectman Peter Hanley said the Board of Selectmen's spending proposal reflects an increase of $3 per $100,000 valuation.

With the current property tax rate 12.15, the annual tax bill on a house assessed at $100,000 would go from $1,215 to $1,515.

"The Budget Committee is trying to cut things down, but we figured what we sent them was an essential budget," Hanley said Monday. "The people have spoken and asked for an increase of $95,000 for schools and that's two out of the three mils. The county's (budget) up and everyone of your facilities are up, and of course gas and oil. They're trying to cut out some services that are really needed, like the library."

Based on borrowing books and videos by Randolph residents, the Gardiner library is asking for $15,692 -- up $1,990 from last year. If this amount is approved, everyone in Randolph can use the library for free.

Selectmen support the full amount, but the Budget Committee instead wants to establish a $5,000 fund to reimburse residents who use the library. This recommendation is similar to Farmingdale's arrangement with the library.

"Every time I do a survey or talk to someone, they're awful proud of the fact that they can go to the library and be able to do the things they do there. I know it's quite a raise in cost, but it's something the elderly people look forward to," Hanley said.

If the selectmen's proposal is accepted, Hanley said residents will have to vote to increase the state's property tax levy limit of $244,230.

Robert Davis, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said he wasn't comfortable with the Budget Committee's cuts.

"Some of the cuts I feel were arbitrary and not thought out," Davis said. "They cut where they could but on the very small end of the budget. The big end was already decided by the school and county budgets and there's no control over those. They're all voted on."

"It will be decided on the floor at the town meeting," Coughlan said. "Just because of the differences between the selectmen and Budget Committee, it is extremely important people come to the town meeting. They're the ones who will determine the tax rate."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com