BUCKFIELD — When the town meeting gets underway today, voters will weigh in on a $1.69 million town budget, which if passed in its entirety would increase the mill rate by 65 cents per $1,000 of property value.

Town meeting will commence at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at Buckfield Junior/Senior High School at 160 Morrill St.

The town’s share to Oxford County is $99,520 and Buckfield’s share for RSU 10 is $1.5 million. The current mill rate is $20.80; if the proposed budget is approved, the mill rate would increase to $21.45.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee recommend two of the three articles for the Fire Department. The first is to appropriate $117,480 for the department, which is more than $9,500 than the current budget.

Town Manager Cindy Dunn said in an email $10,000 would be placed in the existing fire truck replacement reserve account and there’s a proposal to “purchase and install a deck gun on the tanker for a cost of $3,900.”

Dunn said in an email that $10,000 would be placed in the existing firetruck replacement reserve account and there’s a proposal to “purchase and install a deck gun on the tanker for a cost of $3,900.”

The second article, for hydrant rental, is $52,260, which is the same as the current budget.

Selectmen also recommend an article that would authorize the town treasurer to deposit all donations and Fire Department billing revenue into the fire equipment reserve.

Among selectmen and Budget Committee recommendations:

• Rescue Department, $191,710, $3,150 less than the current budget;

• Solid Waste and Recycling, $181,450, over $660 more;

• Roads, $134,885, nearly $10,000 less;

• Summer roads, $383,120, $58,120 more, taking into account revenue from the state’s Local Road Assistance Program for capital road improvements and also to fund the 2016-17 Proposed Summer Roads Project Plan;

• Animal welfare, $4,180, $40 more;

• General Assistance, $3,000, no change;

• Social services/agencies, $3,250, no change;

• Debt service, $130,680, $11,600 less, because the town paid off the Brown Bridge Reconstruction Project loan;

• Recreation Committee, $19,390, slightly less;

• Organizations/local events, $4,100, $3,500 more than the current budget, to address cost of Community Day, upgrade the electric service on the Municipal Center Field ($2,000) and to buy a PA system ($1,500); and

• Public Works, $31,905, nearly $12,000 more.

The increase in the Public Works budget would “replace the aging and failing boiler with a propane-fired, high-efficiency boiler” for a cost of $10,000 and “to stabilize the buckling salt storage shed — estimated cost is $3,500,” Dunn said.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee recommend using $167,750 in state revenues and $161,160 in the fund balance to bring down the tax rate. In another article, $529,602 in local revenues would be used for the same purpose.

A total of $800 — the same as the current budget — is recommended for the Streaked Mountaineers Snowmobile Club to maintain and/or build snowmobile trails and bridges in town. Another article recommended by selectmen asks for the town to seek grants for such work and turn over funds to the club.

A number of articles seek funding for town-owned facilities and responsibilities:

* Municipal Center, $25,650, down $10,650;

* Zadoc Long Free Library, $40,530, up $1,785;

* Old Church on the Hill, $1,200, up $1,200;

* Cemetery maintenance, $8,780, down $5,760;

* Streetlights, $6,700, up $150.

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Town Manager Cindy Dunn said in an email $10,000 would be placed in the existing fire truck replacement reserve account and there’s a proposal to “purchase and install a deck gun on the tanker for a cost of $3,900.”