DURHAM — Residents at town meeting Saturday adopted a municipal budget of $2.19 million.
Selectmen had proposed spending $2.17 million, but voters instead went with a higher Budget Committee recommendation to spend $776,095 for roads instead of the $744,670 selectmen had proposed.
Following a presentation by fire Chief Bill St. Michel on the purchase of a used quint, a ladder truck with engine, residents debated for about 20 minutes before voting 84-36 to authorize borrowing up to $210,000 for the purchase.
The quint will be financed for a period of over six years with the first $40,000 payment to be transferred from the Fire Department Capitol Improvement Account.
Voters also approved a three-year curbside trash collection contract, beginning July 1 of this year. The first year payments would be $189,000; the second year, $192,780; and the third year, $198,563.
Residents went with selectmens’ recommendation and voted to raise $3,000 for six social service agencies instead of the Budget Committee recommendation of $1,500.
Voters rejected a proposal to reduce the size of the Budget Committee by two members to seven.
Other appropriations incuded winter roads, $401,429; fire and rescue operating budget, $263,225; administrative expenses, $338,667; animal control $13,819; assessing, $20,150; cemeteries, $7,850; Eureka Community Center, $4,999; Fire Station loan, $39,510; Parks and Recreation, $9,500; General Assistance, $5,000.
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