BETHEL – Provided nothing unforeseen happens this coming year, taking a substantial chunk out of surplus to lower the tax commitment could be a good thing.

At last Monday night’s special town meeting, 31 residents who packed into the town office voted 17-14 to take $400,000 out of Bethel’s undesignated fund balance. An auditor pegged the town’s surplus balance at about $800,000 going into the year, said selectmen Chairman Harry Dresser Jr.

“Taking $250,000 out, even $300,000, would have been an appropriate number, but $400,000 will be OK if nothing happens,” Dresser said Monday afternoon.

Selectmen had recommended taking out only $250,000 to decrease the June town meeting tax rate estimate from $17.34 per $1,000 of valuation to $16.13.

The current tax rate is $15.50.

Before the special town meeting vote, five Budget Committee members recommended taking out $300,000; another member sought $350,000.

But at the Sept. 20 special town meeting, resident John Gray motioned from the floor to use $400,000 from surplus to lower the tax rate.

Town Manager Scott Cole said Monday that he expected that when the Board of Assessors meets at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, it will stick with the current rate of $15.50. Although, it could be slightly lower, he added.

Dresser said Monday that something unforeseen always arises in Bethel, forcing the town to hold a special town meeting to appropriate more money.