MEXICO – A straw poll taken at last week’s election showed that a clear majority of people are satisfied with the services provided by the town and are willing to pay a bit more in taxes to retain them.

Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Barbara Laramee told the board Wednesday night that a similar survey conducted a few years ago resulted in almost the same percentages of satisfaction.

According to the survey, residents want the same level of services and are willing to pay more for them by the following votes: public works, 795 yes, 312 no; police department, 756 yes, 350 no; fire department, 894 yes, 209 no; town office, 713 yes, 381 no; library, 669 yes, 461 no; recreation, 631 yes, 461 no.

“This is a good survey. It tells us we don’t have to look at cutting budgets unless there are mergers,” she said.

Resident Randal Canwell said the 400 absentee ballots cast during the November election did not include the straw poll survey.

“It would have been closer,” he said.

Laramee said anyone who has not filled out a survey is invited to pick one up at the town office.

Selectman George Byam said the vote showed confidence in the town’s operation.

“Not to expand, but to keep the same services, and provide better management anywhere we can find it,” he said.

The board also agreed to meet with Dixfield selectmen to discuss whether there are ways the Mexico and Dixfield police departments could work more closely together, up to and including a possible merger.

That meeting will likely be held in late November or early December.

In other matters, the board:

• approved spending up to $300 for plants and flowers at the Mexico Greens. They also agreed to try to re-establish a beautification committee that would provide care for plants at the Greens. Sherry Gallant will begin organizing the gardens at the site.

• learned of plans for a second exhibition wrestling show at the recreation center to benefit the Recreation Department on Dec. 27. The first, held last week, netted about $750 for the department.

• learned of tentative plans to bring a Snow-Cross show to the Mexico recreation park sometime this winter.