What: Byron annual town meeting

When: 6:30 p.m., March 9

Where: Coos Canyon Schoolhouse

Byron voters to act on office pay

BYRON – If voters here pass all 33 of warrant articles at Monday’s annual town meeting, the municipal budget will be just over $100,000.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at the Coos Canyon Schoolhouse.

Selectwoman Anne Simmons-Edmunds said the board tried to keep the budget tight because of the poor economy and costs related to creation of a new school school unit.

“We struggled to keep costs down because we don’t know what will happen,” she said.

Requested is $96,400 to run town government and $4,300 for social service agencies and promotional organizations.

Among proposed changes are cuts in funds for the town clerk, tax collector and treasurer, from $15,000 last year to just under $10,000. Each position will be assigned a dollar figure rather than a per hour rate.

Simmons-Edmunds said selectmen surveyed towns similar in size to Byron about the pay scale for the jobs. Byron has a population of just over 120 people. The survey showed average pay rates several dollars less hourly than Byron’s rates, she said.

While most of the budget was kept at or below last year’s level, some accounts rose, such as $1,000 more for the Fire Department to help pay for training. And $5,000 was added to the legal account to defend against a lawsuit challenging the town over a proposed campground expansion.

Elections from the floor will include the selectman’s seat held by Mike Gallant, the town clerk position held by Allison Freeman, and the treasurer and tax collector position held by Melissa Ramey.

Voters will also decide whether to grant a 10 percent discount on property taxes paid on or before Sept. 15.