On Tuesday, February 12 the Boothbay selectmen reviewed outside and support organization requests for the 2009 fiscal year with Town Manager John Anderson.

Before the group began Selectman and Chair Chuck Cunningham set the tone: "Times are tough out there, there's not much money in people's wallets so the more we can keep amounts the same, or reduced, the better off we are going to be."

The approved allocations are as follows: $300 for the American Legion Post #36/Memorial Day; $500 for the American Red Cross in the EMA budget; $600 for the Boothbay Region Alumni Community Band; $800 for the Boothbay Region Baseball Association; $11,000 for BRCTV Channel 7; $18,005 for Boothbay Region District Nursing; $1,000 to the Boothbay Region Historical Society; $1,000 to the Boothbay Region Senior Citizens Club; $2,500 for the Community Fireworks fund; $500 for Meals on Wheels; $915 for New Hope For Women; $2,500 for St. Andrews Home Health program.

This funding comprises $39,620 of the town's budget and all amounts remained the same as the previous year with the exception of district nursing. Anderson said the district nurse amount, which is $9,370 less than the 2008 request, is a reflection of the lower percentage of elderly residents in Boothbay.

If approved by taxpayers at Town Meeting in May, funds for 2009 will become available July 1, 2008.

Requests received from Central Maine Area Agency on Aging/Senior Spectrum, Kno-Wal-Lin, and Eldercare Network of Lincoln County were denied.

Organizations requesting funding for the first time that were also denied were Midcoast Maine Community Action and Midcoast Mental Health Care Center.

The group will continue budget meetings on February 19 and 20.