FARMINGDALE — In less than an hour, about 30 voters agreed to a $2.35 million spending plan that will fund additional roadwork, pay for switching to mostly salt to treat winter roads and cover usual town expenses.

With few questions, voters gathered at Hall-Dale Middle & High School’s auditorium approved the 60 warrant articles that will fund town operations for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The only change to the proposed spending presented by the Board of Selectmen came via an amendment from the floor to increase the money set aside for the Highway Reserve Account for underground drains from $15,000 to $25,000. It passed easily.

Town officials also anticipate spending $200,000 more for snowplowing. That higher cost is due in part to higher fuel prices, but it also reflects a transition to using more salt rather than a salt and sand mix to keep the town’s roads clear in the winter.

As proposed, the budget detailed spending that was more than $650,000 higher than the current year’s budget. But not all of the $2.35 million will come from property taxpayers. The selectmen opted to use about $771,000 from surplus funds or excise taxes, leaving $1.58 million to raised by property taxes.

The property tax rate that results from Thursday’s vote will be calculated later this year. It’s currently $17.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, but it’s expected to rise.

In Tuesday’s municipal election, Ebert was elected to both a three-year term and a two-year term. He had filed petitions to run for a full term and to run to complete the unfinished term of Wayne Kilgore in the event that someone mounted a successful write-in campaign for the full term. No one did.

Ebert said Thursday that the selectmen would decide what route to take at their July 13 meeting. Before the election, he had said there were several options, including holding a special election, likely in November, to fill the seat or to operate until the municipal election next June with two selectmen.

As of June 10, Farmingdale had 2,579 registered voters, according to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State. The roughly 30 voters who showed up Thursday make up about 1% of that total.

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