By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Price increases can be felt everywhere, but the cost to buy a sticker to use the Bridgton Transfer Station will remain the same.

Each year at this time, the Select Board receives a list of town fees and possible rate hikes.

One proposal was to charge $20 for a dump sticker, which would be good for just one year. Stickers would need to be purchased by July 1 of each year.

“I have a problem with stickers going to $20,” Selectman Bob McHatton said.

Chair Carmen Lone agreed, pointing out that the sticker merely signifies the holder is a taxpayer, property owner or business owner, who “has a right to use the dump.”

Town Manager Robert Peabody said dump stickers generate revenue that offset the costs of Transfer Station operations. He added that when people were debating the Pay-Per-Bag option, many supported increasing the dump sticker cost over paying for disposal bags. Peabody noted that the price for disposing trash is expected to rise $230,000.

Lone countered that one message she took from the PPB debate was “the general public doesn’t mind paying for the Transfer Station in their tax bill.”

Selectman Paul Tworog called the proposed hike “massive” and he was “totally opposed” to it. He called attention to other departments increasing services, thus increasing their budgets, which requires more tax dollars.

“I can see raising it some, but by a factor of 4 is a slap in the face,” he said.

Peabody noted that department heads are charged to look at their operations and make recommendations to the board, and “not looking to slap anyone in the face.”

“They are trying to give you their best judgments, if don’t agree that’s fine…they’re not trying to slap anyone in the face,” Peabody said.

McHatton pointed out more revenue could be generated at the current $10 price if everyone using the Transfer Station paid.

“People go to landfill and don’t pay for a sticker,” he said.

Public Services Director David Madsen requested that officials support an annual sticker, all due on the same date, and a different color would be used every year “to make it easier for the guys working there.” Extra personnel will be on site during expected busy times to sell stickers and check users whether they have a sticker or not — one sticker per household.

The Select Board backed those requests, and will keep stickers at $10.

A full list of town fees is available on the town website.