Kennebec County taps fund balance to reduce property tax
The county s budget committee now considering the best use of $23 million in federal relief funds Kennebec County expects to receive.
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AUGUSTA Even as the Kennebec County budget committee endorsed a proposal to modestly lower the county’s share of property taxes, members have their eyes on next funding question: What to do with $23 million in federal relief funds.
On Wednesday, the budget committee agreed to a revised spending plan that doubles the amount of the county’s surplus funds to be used to offset spending in the county’s $14.3 million draft spending plan.
Kennebec County budget undergoes first review
County officials are proposing a $14.3 million spending plan, a 5.12% overall budget increase, which could mean nearly a 5.7% hike in what s raised through property taxes in Kennebec County.
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AUGUSTA – As the Kennebec County budget committee completed its first review of the county’s proposed $14.3 million spending plan, its members are wondering how the latest federal stimulus package may affect that.
The short answer is that no one knows yet.
Kennebec County Administrator Robert Devlin said Thursday that guidance about how the $23 million the county is expecting may be used hasn’t been issued yet, but is expected by mid-May. The budget committee is expected to meet again May 12.
These Materials Could Make Science Fiction a Reality
Metamaterials, which could improve smartphones and change how we use other technology, allow scientists to control light waves in new ways.
Credit.James Yang
This article is part of our new series,
, which examines how rapid advances in technology are transforming our lives.
Imagine operating a computer by moving your hands in the air as Tony Stark does in “Iron Man.” Or using a smartphone to magnify an object as does the device that Harrison Ford’s character uses in “Blade Runner.” Or a next-generation video meeting where augmented reality glasses make it possible to view 3-D avatars. Or a generation of autonomous vehicles capable of driving safely in city traffic.
BBC News
By David Silverberg
image captionTom Ang has written more than 30 books on digital photography Today s smartphone cameras can make a better image than cameras I paid NZ$10,000 ($7,110; £5,165) for only 20 years ago, says Tom Ang, an Auckland-based professional photographer and author of more than 30 books on digital photography.
The cameras embedded in our smartphones have become so good, many of those too young to remember anything different would scoff at the idea of carting around a separate camera.
While Mr Ang is still fond of his high-end DSLR cameras, most of us rely on smartphone photos and videos to capture our memorable events and duckface selfies.
Smaller and better smartphone cameras are on the way bbc.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bbc.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.