STRONG — Voters will head to the polls Friday to elect a selectman and three school board members.

Voting will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. March 21 at the Forster Memorial Building.

Selectman James Burrill is seeking another three-year term, as are RSU 58 directors Lois Barker and Rupert Pratt. A third seat on the school board for two years is open for a write-in candidate.

Voters will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Forster Memorial Building to act on the remaining warrant articles.

This year’s request to raise and appropriate $565,059 for the municipal budget is $123 less than last year, according to Selectman Milt Baston. The town expects state revenue sharing and state tax reimbursements in 2014, but there’s always a chance revenues will be lower than expected, he said.

Although financial books were closed Dec. 31, 2013, selectmen still must pay bills for January and February this year, he said.

One big expense will be a new plow truck and selectmen have limited the cost to $175,000. Baston said the Special Equipment Fund account can transfer $116,700 toward the purchase. Selectmen will borrow the remaining $58,300 over three years.

One warrant article requests using $34,942 from the Local Road Assistance Program account and raising $10,058 for that account. Voters will be asked to appropriate $53,000 for the Roads and Bridges Account, $73,000 for the Winter Roads Account and $9,500 for the Garage Account.

Although the town approved raising $2,000 each year, starting in 2009, toward replacing siding on the Town Office, local building contractor Jeff Murphy said the roof needs replacing first. He said the materials and labor should cost an estimated $12,000. Voters will be asked for $10,000, with another $2,000 appropriated from the Forster Memorial Building fund.

Selectmen approved spending $4,650 for the Policing Account, while the Budget Committee recommends spending $3,800. Although both groups agreed to pay Ann Dunne $3,800 for Animal Control Services, the Budget Committee was not willing to recommend paying the $350 fee for her ACO recertification, and $500 for two live traps, two catch poles, two dog cages and two cat cages.

Residents have several financing options if they choose to fix the town’s tennis court. The surface has become unsafe and needs to be repaved with a skim coat or completely rebuilt. Residents also have the choice to raise $1,300 for a float at the town beach on Porter Lake.

Each year, voters are asked to take money from undesignated funds to reduce the tax commitment, and this year’s request will be $250,000, according to Baston.

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