BUCKFIELD – Town Manager Glen Holmes presented a budget to selectmen Tuesday night that reflected spending cuts made at the annual town meeting last week.

The revised budget is $56,900 less than the original proposal presented, and $22,855.83 below the state spending limit. The estimated tax rate would be $19.25.

One of the items voted down at the town meeting was a new loader. Holmes had an itemized list from John Deere that showed it would take $39,753 to repair it.

Selectmen felt it was foolish to spend that much money on a 23-year-old loader. Holmes said they would have to contract for winter roads work if they had no means of loading salt and sand. Another choice would be to rent a loader.

The town also voted not to create a position of public works director.

Discussions have been under way to possibly share a director with Minot. If that happens, there might be possibilities of sharing equipment as well, though Minot has no loader.

Floyd Richardson Jr. spoke to the issue of both the grader and the public works position. Richardson’s term as newly elected selectman will begin July 1. He said he thought voters were confused at the town meeting by not knowing what the public works job involved. He said that if the board worked on a job description and explained how the town could share the person with Minot, it could be brought back to a special town meeting.

A workshop to discuss regionalization will be held July 1 if Minot selectmen and their public works director can attend.

A monthly Swap Shop report was presented that showed 2,530 pounds of items were recycled through the shop in May. A 40-foot container has been added to the Swap Shop, which is at the Buckfield-Sumner Transfer Station on Route 140 in Buckfield. A volunteer has built shelves in both containers. Someone stole some of the lumber being used for shelving.

Appointments to the Planning Board included Warren Wright and Richard Piper with Joyce Hartson as alternate.

Amy Beaucage was appointed to the Old Church on the Hill Committee and Warren Wright was appointed to the Budget Committee.