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This week I’m writing about a threat to topsoil, vital to the preservation of food security. Topsoil is the uppermost layer of the soil and is where 95% of our food is grown. Threats to topsoil are not new. Years ago, Bussie York, owner of Sandy River Farms in Farmington, Maine, taught me about the importance of soil regeneration, maintenance, and preservation by planting cover crops between harvests. According to a report by David Pimentel, Soil Erosion: A Food and Environmental Threat (2005), “soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental and public health problems facing human society.” In the United States, soil is eroding ten times faster than nature can replenish it.
Town Manager Richard Davis said there is an increase of about $743,000.
“Fully half of that increase is in workers’ comp as a result of the (LEAP) explosion,” he said. “We’ve paid out nearly $2 million and will continue to pay.”
Beyond that, the budget is about 0.5% over the budget proposed last year prior to cuts being made, Davis said.
The town is expected to see substantial new revenue from the (Sandy River Farms) solar project and a healthy unassigned fund balance could offset some of the increases, he noted.
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A 2% cost of living adjustment across the board for all departments except police, who had different contract negotiations was given all employees, Davis said.