MINOT — The Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee are recommending passage of budget articles totaling a little over $1.5 million at the annual town meeting at the Minot Consolidated School Saturday, March 5, at 9 a.m.

“After considering all the requests that came in, the selectmen are seeking approval of a budget that is $65,000 less than last year. It is lean,” town Administrator Arlan Saunders said.

Dean Campbell, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, noted that while the budget is lean, the board is seeking approval to purchase two new pieces of equipment, the first being a new truck for the Highway Department.

The new truck will cost $152,000 under a lease-purchase agreement that calls for five annual payments of just over $32,000.

“This will be replacing a third-hand sander truck that started life as an oil truck, then was a firetruck and then a sander truck.” Campbell said.

Campbell figured that the new truck, which will be a plow truck and a sander truck, should save the town on labor during the winter snow season.

Campbell’s estimation that the new truck could save the town money prompted the Budget Committee to recommend lowering the amount being requested for winter roads from $169,000 to $151,000.

Voters are also being asked to replace the town’s 1996 rescue truck with a 2011 Yukon-style, three-quarter ton vehicle. Selectmen want to raise $50,000 financed over two years. The Budget Committee is recommending raising $47,000 and paying for it in full this year.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee are in agreement that the Recreation Committee’s request for $40,000 — which is in addition to any reimbursements the town might have coming from grant money — should be cut back to $13,000 plus the estimated $17,700 trail grant reimbursement.

The Recreation Committee is seeking the money to begin a multi-year project to add a multipurpose field to facilities at the Minot Memorial Park.

The Selectmen and Budget Committee are also both recommending against the request for a $10,000 donation by the Minot Hebron Athletic Association.

The two are split on the Minot Summer Enrichment Program’s request for $2,500, with the Selectmen recommending funding at last year’s level of $1,500 and the Budget Committee recommending the full amount requested.

Campbell noted that while the recommendations of both the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee total less than what the town is spending this year, it doesn’t mean property taxes will go down.

“We are looking at cuts in state funding again this year, as they still can’t seem to be able to get their financial house in order. Revenue sharing, tree growth, URIP and aid to local schools are all being cut again this year. This has an effect on the mill rate that is hard to predict,” Campbell said.

With the elimination of school funding articles from the annual town meeting, officials estimate that the meeting will not extend much beyond the noon hour. Thus the customary town meeting lunch will not be served; however, the Minot Enrichment Program will be providing a buffet brunch for $6 and an assortment of a la carte items as a fundraiser.