MINOT — Selectmen learned Monday that the estimated cost for the proposed addition to the Central Fire Station has increased by more than $100,000 in the past year.

Selectman Dean Campbell said the architects’ latest figure for building the 44- by 64-foot addition stands at roughly $536,000. The estimate given to voters at the town meeting this past March was $432,000.

“I’d almost expected it would do something like that,” Campbell said.

The department has expanded since the original Central Fire Station was built to include rescue services.

While generally supportive of the need for the addition, residents felt the debt the town was carrying was a little high and decided to wait a year.

The architects’ estimate presented a plan whereby the town could save about $82,000 if it built the full structure, but only finished about a third of the interior.

By delaying the fire station project, Selectman Eda Tripp noted, the town was one year closer to its last payment on its Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. debt.

Campbell also reported he received word that delivery of the new firetruck, authorized at the town meeting in March, had been delayed about 40 days.

In other business, Town Administrator Arlan Saunders presented selectmen with a first draft of the town’s budget. Selectmen accepted the budget for review at their next meeting.

Campbell and Selectman Dan Callahan said they received reports from concerned residents that there appeared to be a possible business operating out of a house on Lower Road.

Selectmen directed Saunders to have Code Enforcement Officer Ken Pratt check on the matter, because there is no record of any approval for operating a business at that property.

Callahan noted that the property might be rented, and a letter should be sent to the property owner, if this is the case.

Saunders also announced that applications for the Roland and Noella Hemond and Kurt Theriault scholarships are available at the town office.

The scholarships are for Minot residents intent on pursuing their education beyond high school. Criteria for the award are available with the applications. Completed applications are due Jan. 18, 2013.