CHINA — More than $2 million is requested from voters for the 2012-13 municipal budget and the only item on which the selectmen and the Budget Committee disagree is over $1,504 for charitable organizations and social service agencies.

Voters will act on the budget requests at the annual town meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday in the multi-purpose room at China Middle School on Lakeview Drive.

At past meetings, voters have argued at length over questions like the ones presented this year: whether to give the Children’s Center and the Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center $1,000 each, as selectmen recommend, or $1,752 each, as the Budget Committee recommends.

For the 12 social service agencies to be considered this year, the selectmen recommend appropriating $14,071 and the Budget Committee recommends $15,575 — a difference of $1,504.

A quorum of 122 voters must be present to open the meeting. Refreshments will be served beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The major expenditures for the fiscal year that begins July 1 are for roads, town administration and the transfer station.

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Compared to last year, requests for roads and administration are higher, and the request for the transfer station is down slightly.

The total road budget proposed for 2012-13 is $658,182, with $595,182 anticipated from excise taxes and the rest from a $63,000 state grant. Last year, selectmen proposed a total of $646,664, with $583,664 from excise taxes and the same state grant.

Last year, selectmen asked voters to appropriate $449,766 for the main administrative article, which includes town office salaries and expenses. This year’s request is for $461,883.

Other requests related to administration have also increased — notably the proposed amount for assessing because the current assessor is retiring at the end of June — and the expected cost of insurance and unemployment compensation.

This year’s request for the transfer station is $279,965. Last year’s figure was $280,617.

Most smaller requests are at, or slightly above, current spending.

The warrant listing the articles to be acted on Saturday morning is printed in the 2011 annual town report, which is available at the Town Office and in other public places in China.

 


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