GREENE — Voters at the annual Town Meeting on Saturday will consider a $4.8 million budget that includes money to purchase two new vehicles, replace the Main Street bridge and add two new municipal positions.
Residents will also decide whether to approve a proposed solar ordinance. The town does not have specific regulations for solar developments.
The proposed municipal budget is a $613,000 increase from the current one.
If approved as presented, the owner of a property valued at $250,000 would pay an additional $400 in taxes next year. This increase accounts for both the municipal and school budgets.
Town Manager Carol Buzzell said the increase reflects more money for paving, purchasing a new Public Works plow/dump truck, money for a new firetruck and replacing the Main Street Bridge.
The Public Works truck purchase was approved last year, Buzzell said. Residents will be asked to approve the purchase of a new firetruck for up to $900,000. Once ordered, the it will take two to three years for delivery.
The town is proposing to use $463,000 from the Fire Department’s capital reserve fund and raise an additional $115,000 this year toward the purchase. The town plans to request additional funds at the 2025 annual Town Meeting in order to purchase the truck without financing.
The Main Street bridge replacement project is estimated to cost $875,000. The town has received a $150,000 state grant for the project and has $375,000 in a reserve account. The Budget Committee recommends raising an additional $75,000, while the Board of Selectmen recommends $0.
There are two other articles where recommendations from the Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen differ: Article 45, raising money for the parks and recreation capital reserve account and Article 54, raising money for the capital reserve account.
The budget also includes two new municipal positions, a Public Works supervisor for $83,600 and a bookkeeper/deputy treasurer for $20,000.
“As we are well aware, (due to) the spiraling costs of everything, we were faced with challenging decisions to make while developing the budget,” Buzzell wrote in the Town Report. “The selectmen, Budget Committee and department heads are mindful of the continued financial conditions confronting all of us this year.”
There are 65 articles in the warrant.
The meeting will be held at Greene Central School beginning at 9 a.m.
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