PHILLIPS – Voters will be able to offer changes to the proposed budget during the annual town meeting Saturday, interim Town Manager Elaine Hubbard said Thursday.

The proposed budget of  $944,000 is nearly 1 percent more than last year, she said.

Voters may make amendments to the budget from the town meeting floor, so the final budget amount may be more of less than that amount, she said.

She said the town anticipates receiving $459,477 in state revenues, but no money will be taken from surplus funds to reduce the taxpayers’ burden under the current budget proposal.

Voters will be asked to approve the Budget Committee’s recommendation of $385,103 for the Public Works and Highway Departments.

The committee is also recommending reserve account appropriations of $12,500 for Public Works, $15,000 for the Fire Department, and $2,500 for the transfer station.

Other requests include $9,000 for street lights, $29,647 for NorthStar Emergency Services, and $4,109 for animal control. 

Other budget committee recommendations include spending $126,125 for solid waste and recycling because trucking fees have increased by 9 percent over the last fiscal year, Hubbard said.

“Last year’s budget was $934,997, and the request for this year is $943,998,” Hubbard said. That’s a total increase of $9,001.

Two candidates, incumbent Selectman Nancy Morgan and former Town Manager Lynn White, have declared their interest in running for the open three-year term on the board.

Alan Morse, one of the town’s two school board members, will serve again if nominated; no other candidates have come forward to challenge him, according to Hubbard.

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