DIXFIELD – By a 104-98 tally at Tuesday’s polls, Dixfield voters did not authorize selectmen to buy a new Public Works Department truck. By doing so, they told the town they didn’t want to borrow up to $94,000 toward its purchase.

At last month’s town meeting, voters authorized selectmen to borrow $70,000 to buy the truck for winter snow removal and summer projects. However, in a preceding warrant article, they declined to raise or appropriate money for reserve accounts.

A requested $24,000 was to be combined with $72,000 already in the Public Works equipment reserve account and a $70,000 loan to buy the truck, which is estimated to cost $166,000.

Regarding municipal elections, incumbent Selectman Bettina M. Martin was re-elected to another three-year term, garnering 130 votes, while opponent William L.Gallant got 107 votes.

SAD 21 Director Bruce A. Ross, who ran unopposed, tallied 203 votes.

SAD 21’s $11.5 million spending plan for 2008-09 was approved by a total of 464-223. Tallies were:

Canton – 77 yes, 33 no.

Carthage – 33 yes, 9 no.

Dixfield – 160 yes, 79 no.

Peru – 194 yes, 102 no

According to SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward, the $11,502,566 budget represents a 2 percent increase over the 2007-08 budget. He attributed it to a considerable increase in salaries and fuel. As a result, several positions and programs were eliminated to lessen the impact on taxpayers.

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