PHILLIPS – Voters will get a second chance Saturday to decide what they want to spend to run town government for fiscal 2009, which began July 1. The proposed budget for town government operations is $1.04 million.

Town government came to a halt July 1 after voters rejected exceeding the $256,076 tax levy limit at a June 28 town meeting and adjourned the session before any spending articles could be considered. Employees were laid off. The town of Avon has come to Phillips’ aid, registering vehicles and boats and keeping the Phillips transfer station open.

After new Town Manager Lynn White did some recalculations he found that there had been an error in the amount of money the town could spend on town government to stay within the state-approved property tax levy.

The new tax levy for Phillips is $893,526 and voters will be asked to exceed that by $153,163, White said, to cover town expenses.

There are some increases in the budget, including $150,000 for three road restoration projects, White said, but he believes it is too late to get all three roads done and may have to withdraw one.

There is also a $25,000 increase in the solid waste account due to tipping fees and hauling expenses, he said.

The town’s share of the SAD 58 school budget approved in June is $692,537, and the total budget for both town and school spending is $1.73 million, he said.

The last full budget year was in 2007 and school and town expenses combined were $1.54 million. Of that, $543,798 was for the town’s share of 10 months of SAD 58 expenses.

After electing a moderator at 9 a.m. July 12, at the “old gym” building on Depot Street, voters will be asked to authorize municipal officers to spend an amount not to exceed one-twelfth of the budgeted amount in each category of the 2007 budget from July 1 to the next annual budget.

White said the town used to have an article similar to that on the warrant that he said would allow the town to spend money until a budget is approved.

That way the town would not have to close down again if voters reject the proposed budget or adjourn after the third article, which is the tax levy article.