In most cases, voters went with the recommendations of the Budget Committee.
By Gail Geraghty
Staff Writer

SWEDEN – Voters slashed proposed spending increases across the board and nixed any carry over of surplus funds at Saturday’s Town Meeting.

Numbers were not available Saturday, but it appeared voters eliminated all of the proposed 10 percent increase in municipal appropriations to keep spending just about level with last year.

Last year’s total budget was $219,150.

In most cases, the 50 or so voters attending went with the recommendations of a vocal Budget Committee.

Instead of the $45,000 proposed for road maintenance, voters went with the Budget Committee’s recommendation of $38,000.

Selectmen argued hard that the extra money was needed to get the town started on a road maintenance program.

Floods washed out the tar under several roads this year, and the town qualified for federal disaster aid reimbursement funds. But in order to qualify for those funds, the town needs to show it has a road program in place, said selectman Warren Noble.

“This past fall and winter, Haskell Hill Road washed out, water undermined the tar on Mars Road and it collapsed. The tar was also undermined and collapsed on Hard-Scrabble Road. All of this damage was because there were not adequate ditches for the rain storms we often get now,” selectmen wrote in the town report.

Voters went with $38,000 for rubbish pickup, despite selectmen’s statements that the rubbish contractor is asking for an additional $50 a week, which would require a $40,000 budget.

If extra money is needed, said one voter, it can be taken from surplus.

Selectmen’s recommended $5,000 for recycling and demolition debris was cut to $2,000, despite Noble’s warning that some of the demolition material may end up in the woods.

Road Commissioner John Clifford’s salary was set at $750, a $250 increase over last year. Selectmen wanted to increase it to $900 a year. “He’s been doing a tremendous job,” said Selectman Earl Buker.

A new $500 position of cemetery sexton was created to survey all of the town’s ancient burial grounds. Voters declined, however, to spend $1,500 to create a Web site to post information about municipal news in town.