SABATTUS — Town Manager Anthony Ward presented his budget recommendation to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night, recommending an overall increase of $155,000, or 5.68 percent, from current spending.

“I can’t say yet thought how it will effect the mil rate because there are too many variables, with the school budget, the state and each line item,” Ward said. 

Ward’s recommended budget of $2.9 million will be discussed by both the budget committee and board at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 28. Each department head will also be there explain its budget requests. 

The proposed budget includes using $238,000 in existing funds and raising $443,000 in taxes. One of the main reasons for the increase, Ward explained, is a requested market analysis budgeted at $55,000. 

Town Assessor Donna Hays said the last revaluation was in 2007. She said it is time to update the market values of many properties in Sabattus. 

Hays said the state recommends each town’s market value stay between 70 and 110 percent. Currently the town is at 106 percent. A market analysis, she said, is cheaper and easier than a full evaluation. 

“And if we don’t do this, what happens?” Selectmen Chair Mark Duquette asked.

“It will stay the same, we have a little time,” Hays said. “But I would rather be proactive than reactive.” 

At Tuesday’s meeting, selectmen also approved the payment of $26,250 to Country Fare Inc. for the town’s 2019 winter sand. There was a $20,000 budget line for the expense, but the town is allowed to spend 15 percent more than that, if needed.

The cost to buy the sand from Country Fare was $3,000 less than the other bids the town received.