DIXFIELD – Selectmen signed a 35-article town meeting warrant Monday that if approved by voters on May 28, would likely maintain the current tax rate.

The board had previously approved a 2009-10 operating budget of $1,892,351, down $10,000 from the previous year’s adopted budget and a few thousand dollars higher than recommended by the Finance Committee.

Residents will decide the final figure at the annual town meeting set for 6 p.m., May 28, at Dirigo Middle School.

One of the articles calls for approval to adjourn the town meeting at 9 p.m., if all business is not completed, then reconvened on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., or another night at 6 p.m. Last year’s town meeting lasted nearly eight hours.

Town Manager Eugene Skibitsky said state revenue sharing, local road assistance and tree growth reimbursements may decline by a total of nearly $80,000. That possibility is built into the selectmen-approved proposed budget. However, if state residents approve a citizens’ initiative to cut in half the amount of excise tax communities receive, a special town meeting may have to be called so that money from surplus may be used to pay municipal bills.

“Excise tax is the big unknown,” he said.

Half of Dixfield’s excise tax revenues, at about $148,000, equals one mill, he said.

Another uncertainty is the school tax. The town’s share won’t be known until the Western Foothills School District budget is acted on in June.

Residents will act on the proposed school budget, as well as the election of two selectmen, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., June 9, at the American Legion Hall on Main Street.

Also on Monday, the board entered a closed session to continue discussions on the public works union negotiations. The most recent contract expires on July 1.