DIXFIELD — Residents will have a chance to vote on 29 articles that comprise the annual town meeting warrant beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday in the community room of Dirigo High School.

In addition to the proposed $2 million municipal budget, up almost 6 percent from the current year’s figure of $1.95 million, voters also will vote on several ordinances or amended ordinances.

But first, longtime resident Ike Libby will be honored at the beginning of the town meeting as Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

Libby’s business, Hometown Energy, made national headlines earlier this year regarding the plight of people unable to buy heating oil because of its high cost. More than $250,000 from people around the country poured in to establish a fund for oil purchases by deserving people.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said much of the budget increase is the result of adding money to several capital accounts, substantially higher fuel and gasoline costs, and providing 5 percent salary increases to most municipal employees. Employees did not receive salary increases for two years.

The ordinances include one seeking to adopt regulations in line with state requirements on building permits. Another requests voter approval for the National Fire Protection Act codes and standards that will be followed by the Dixfield Fire Company.

A third more clearly outlines where all-terrain-vehicle riders may use town roads to access the trail. It also provides regulations for safe riding.

Skibitsky said one of the articles asks residents to OK going above the state LD 1 tax levy limit so that the budget may be approved. That difference is $58,000.

He said the amount of increase to the tax levy allowed by the state does not take into consideration increasingly higher costs for such things as fuel and materials.