CORNVILLE — Voters at the annual Town Meeting approved tapping into a surplus fund to keep the tax rate from increasing in the coming year.

After adopting a spending plan that is up about $35,000 from last year’s budget of $520,000, residents at the meeting Saturday in the community center supported the measure to keep taxes from increasing.

They authorized spending up to $225,000 from the surplus fund, which has a balance of $411,000, according to First Selectman Melvin Blaisdell. The surplus spending should keep the tax rate at around $16 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, he said. He added that the estimate could change, depending on county and school taxes decided later this year.

Among the municipal spending approved in the town budget adopted Saturday, voters cut $20,000 from an initial $155,000 proposal to pay for winter roads. Town officials said the mild winter allowed the town to carry over funds and reduce the proposal to $135,000.

Voters also approved spending $38,000 to pave Ames Road Hill and $25,000 to purchase a plow truck. All other spending articles passed as proposed, including $52,000 for general government costs such as heating town-owned buildings and paying for insurance.

In elections Friday, 281 people cast ballots to decide several contested races, representing nearly a third of the 933 registered voters in town.

Charlotte Prosser, with 214 votes, was elected town treasurer, beating Kenneth Hogate, who received 60 votes and is also the town’s fire chief.

With 198 votes, Myron C. Moody Jr. was re-elected road commissioner. He defeated challenger Matthew Quinn, 78 votes. In a write-in race for the school board seat, Theresa Howard, 41 votes, beat Alissha Pike, 14 votes.

Evelyn Wood, longtime town clerk and tax collector, was presented a plaque and flowers to commemorate her retirement after 24 years in office. She is being replaced by Tammy Chamberland, who ran unopposed to fill the two positions.

Selectman Christopher Poulin also will serve another three-year term after running unopposed for the seat.

About 50 people attended the meeting Saturday morning, passing the 29-article town warrant in slightly less than an hour.

David Robinson – 861-9287

[email protected]