Action taken by the Lincoln County Commissioners Tuesday morning was good news for the taxpayers. The commissioners voted to use $579,000 of surplus money to reduce taxes, and put $50,000 into a parking lot reserve account.

The commissioners also signed the town commitments. Believe it or not, some towns will see a decrease in their county taxes this year.

Boothbay Harbor's county tax decreased by over $38,000, from $933,00,000 in 2007 to $895,000 for 2008; Southport's decreased by $34,000, from $743,000 to $709,000 in 2008.

Other towns that will see a decrease include: Newcastle, a decrease of $2,400; Edgecomb, a decrease of $2,100; Whitefield a decrease of nearly $2,000; and Bremen, a decrease of $1,300.

The towns with increases include Bristol with the largest increase of over $86,000, from $1,157,000, to $1,243,000. Boothbay was next with a $24,000 increase, from $1,048,000, to $1,095,000; Westport Island will see an increase of $15,500, bringing their total assessment to $221,400.

Wiscasset's is nearly $16,000 more than last year, bringing their 2008 taxes to $450,000.

The other town 2008 commitments include: Alna, $86,600; Damariscotta, $381,300; Dresden, $148,100; Jefferson, $373,200; Monhegan Plantation, $89,800; Nobleboro, $347,290; Somerville, $51,500; South Bristol, 669,500; and Waldoboro, $530,600.

Commissioner Sheridan Bond said, "With the surplus applied the county budget has a minimal increase of 1.64 percent."

The 2007 county budget was $9.6 million; the 2008 county budget is $10.2 million. However the amount to raise from taxation is $8.3 million for 2008, the amount raised from taxation in 2007 was $8.2 million.

Marcia Silva, Registrar of Deeds will save the county $10,000 this year. The commissioners approved a request from Silva to keep the part-time position vacant in the Book Room. The position has been vacant for the past six months.

Silva wrote in a letter that she is comfortable in the current staffing level, and recommended the position remain vacant the rest of the year.

"I would like to finish the year without filling the position," Silva said, "and reward my staff for their efforts."

She asked that Commissioners approve bonuses for her employees amounting to $1,700 spilt between four employees.

"The annual salary for the Book Room position is $11,717. Deducting the bonus total of $1,700, the county would achieve a savings of approximately $10,000. I believe it is vitally important to recognize deserving county employees for extraordinary efforts," Silvia said.

The commissioners agreed without any hesitation.

Emergency Management Director Tim Pellerin, along with 45 firefighters from Lincoln County and the surrounding area attended a training seminar in Rockland County, N.Y. over the weekend.

"It was a great experience ," Pellerin said. "It allowed us to learn new techniques in fire fighting, and work as a team."

Pellerin told the commissioners the state training requirements are continuing to increase and the burden of the costs is on the county. The training is worthwhile, according to Pellerin, but it will increase training and transportation costs.

The state unfunded mandate requires that the 911 communications officers be certified in eight categories. "If the officers do not get certified they will not be able to answer a 911 call," Pellerin said.

"We will get the certifications that are required," Pellerin said, "I just wanted you, (the commissioners) to know the training and transportation costs will increase because of this unfunded mandate."

Chief Deputy Major Kenneth Manson reported there were 28 Lincoln County inmates at the Two Bridges Regional Jail, with another 20 either on house arrest, monitored, or on a diversion program.

Of the 48 inmate population in Lincoln County, 22 are on a state probation hold. These are state inmates that are being held because they have violated the conditions of their probation; the reimbursement the county receives from the state, for these inmates is insufficient, according to county officials.

Recycling Supervisor Mike Thompson told the commissioners the total monthly revenue for the month of May was $38,000. In the first five months of this year the total revenue is $116,000, which is up about $26,000 over last year's total.

The commissioners approved a request from District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau to hire Amanda Edmondson as a new legal secretary for his office.

Bids were received for the Recycling Department cab and chassis for a roll-on/roll-off truck and a roll-off/ roll-on rail hoist for the truck and bids for three 36 yard roll on /roll off containers.

The container bid was given to the low bidder, Hewes, at a cost of $21,500. The truck and chassis bids were referred to Thompson for review.

The commissioners authorized County Administrator James McMahon to move forward with the three contractors that had submitted proposals for the county parking lots to negotiate an engineering package for the parking lots. The three contractors include: E.S. Coffin, Augusta, Sight Lines, Brunswick, and SMRT, Portland.