STRONG — Selectmen on Tuesday finalized warrant articles in preparation for the March 8 town meeting.

They voted unanimously to ask taxpayers to appropriate $250,000 from surplus funds to reduce the 2015 tax commitment.

Most warrant articles with increases reflect the need to address renovations and repairs and manpower.

The Fire Department payroll account will need to increase next year, according to Chief Duayne Boyd. He will request appropriating $1,500 from county funds and transferring up to $3,500 from fire protection payments from the town of Avon.

He also will ask voters to raise and appropriate an additional $7,500 for that account. He also will request $1,500 from Avon and $15,000, raised and and appropriated by Strong taxpayers, for the Fire Department’s operating account.

Some of the selectmen’s discussion included concerns about an uncertain state budget and changes that could require them to shift more of the burden to property taxpayers.

Road repair and maintenance costs have increased because state support for roadwork has decreased. The state’s Local Road Assistance Program originally sent quarterly checks from the Maine Department of Transportation to the towns for capital improvements. Now, the state program sends a single annual check, which the town received in November 2014, according to Board of Selectmen Chairman Jim Burrill. That $18,448, according to Burrill, can’t all be spent in 2015.

The sum of $3,622 must be deferred to spend in 2016. Burrill agreed to ask the town’s accountant why she recommended that amount to be set aside.

The previous year’s distributions averaged $29,652.