Although the Board of Selectmen has developed a preliminary spending plan, their proposal of approximately 1.7 million has yet to be reviewed by the Board of Finance. Increases include a 3% cost of living adjustment for all town employees, a $5000 increase to the Treasurer’s salary, and a $2000 increase for Planning and Zoning Consulting.  An additional $3000 for legal counsel is included to cover two law suits lodged against the Town, as well as a 5% increase to all utility and fuel line items, and an additional $30,000 for the services of KB Ambulance, from $53,600 to $83,600. The Conservation Commission is also requesting an increase from $605 to $13,974, $12,000 of which is designated for a Trail Improvement Program, a four to five year project which will widen some trails to accommodate the rescue vehicle and provide parking spaces to access certain areas. The Selectmen also added a line item for “Selectman’s Communications”, allocating $2,500 for a town newsletter to “provide updates from different departments of the Town Hall for town information” such as “transfer station stickers, dog license renewals, and revaluations.”  The Selectmen voted to fund only the Land Acquisition and Revaluation Capital accounts this year.

The Board of Finance will discuss the budgets presented by the Boards of Selectmen and Education and hold a public hearing prior to approving the proposals which will be sent to the ultimate decision makers, the taxpayers, at a referendum in June.