TEMPLE – Voters approved a $249,212 budget at Monday’s town meeting, an increase of more than $40,000 from last year. Selectman Ben Milster said in a phone interview that most of the increase was due to rising costs of salt, sand and fuel.
Residents appropriated $92,800 for snow plowing, with $37,800 to come from taxation and $55,000 to be transferred from excise taxes. An additional $45,000 is to be raised for sand and salt, $35,000 from taxation, and $10,000 from excise. Milster said these two items account for about $30,000 of the total increase in the town’s budget.
Voters also approved increases in town salaries. The total salaries of town officials will rise from $13,895 to $17,500.
Selectman George Blodgett was re-elected to a three-year term, as was school board member Joe Josephson. Marie Andrews was elected to one-year terms as treasurer, tax collector and excise tax collector. Raymond Nile retained his position as road commissioner. Diane Dunham was newly elected to a one-year term as town clerk.
Milster said that the 45 or so residents attending passed all 50 articles on the warrant without much discussion, taking a half-hour break for snacks provided by the Ladies’ Fire Auxiliary.
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