Jefferson voters recently approved the spending priorities set by the town’s selectmen at the annual Town Meeting, which is carried out by secret ballot.

In all, 143 voters approved a budget that’s fairly flat from the budget approved a year ago. Some budget requests, such as administration, were higher because of anticipated additional spending for salaries, office expenses and elections. But that was balanced out by lower anticipated costs for the town’s transfer station and general assistance.

In all, selectmen proposed spending about $950,000.

Residents, during the March 28 vote, also agreed to allow selectmen to tap the town’s unreserved surplus account to meet unanticipated expenses for emergencies in general assistance if funds have been depleted and road maintenance due to severe weather during the 2018 budget year. That’s a change in town policy that allows the money to be spent without first holding a special town meeting for voters to authorize the spending.

Pamela Grotton was re-elected to a three-year term on the Board of Selectmen.

Five people ran for four open seats on Jefferson’s budget committee. Wayne Farrin, Lisa Hodgkins, Blaine Kimball and Bruce Sedgewick were elected.

Wayne Parlin was elected to a seat on the Jefferson School Committee, replacing Forrest Bryant.

Town Clerk Angela Hinds said 143 town residents voted.

Jefferson, located in northern Lincoln County, had a population of 2,427 at the 2010 census.

The current mill rate is $12.75 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, meaning the owner of home worth $150,000 would pay $1,912.50 in property tax. The new tax rate will be set in June after the school budget vote and after the Lincoln County budget has been finalized.

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