ROXBURY – Voters approved spending $322,561 at the annual town meeting Monday night. The town’s share of school and county expenses will be added at a later date. This represents a 2 percent increase, or $6,119, over the 2005 budget.
The largest article approved was for winter road maintenance, at $96,892. Selectman Douten Thomas justified the $17,323 increase by citing the large increase in fuel and salt prices. He said the town will have to get bids for a new multiyear contract before next winter, and he anticipates bids then will be appreciably higher than for the last contract.
Voters agreed to transfer $55,000 from the general fund to the building reserve fund. This should be enough to complete the new town office building so it can be occupied this summer.
Town Clerk Tina Howard said she had projected income and expenses for the year. She said she hopes the town will not have to take out a tax anticipation loan again this year.
Nine years ago, Roxbury took out a loan of approximately $250,000 to pave a road. Next year will be the last annual payment of $28,503 on that loan, Howard said.
Roxbury hires outside contractors for all roadwork. Last year, the town did not raise any new funds for summer roads because there was a small amount of money carried over in that account. This year, the voters approved $5,000. Most of this will be used for culvert replacement. Money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has covered repairs after washouts caused by major storms.
Last year, the town received a grant to purchase a new firetruck. Fire Chief James Theriault said the town has applied for another grant to equip the new truck. It will have no equipment when it arrives in a few months. The voters approved $2,000 for Fire Department equipment.
Theriault said, “We will just have to make do with that if the grant is not approved.”
Selectman Mark E. Touchette, who ran unopposed, was re-elected to the board.
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