Francestown’s operating budget is proposed to increase by about $30,000 over last year’s.
A contributing driver is a $26,200 increase to its police department line item, and about a $10,000 rise in cost for its ambulance service.
The town’s combined special and individual warrant articles are proposed to come in at about $1.935 million, a decrease from last year.
Proposed warrant articles include $125,000 to be put toward police station facility improvements, which would come out of the Town Facilities Capital Reserve Fund. The select board approves the article 3-0, although the budget and advisory committee oppose it 4-1.
Taxpayers will decide whether to raise and appropriate $750,000 for the rehabilitation of the Town Hall. The sum is proposed to be raised through the withdrawal of $125,000 from the unassigned fund balance and the acceptance of $625,000 in grants and donations.
The town is also proposing to raise $629,900 to be added to its Capital Reserve Funds.
The select board plans to use $182,400 from the unassigned fund balance, and $447,500 to be raised by general taxation.
The largest contributors to the fund is $170,000 to be used for future town road improvements, $120,000 for future town facility improvements, and $300,000 to be divided evenly between future repair and replacement of bridges, replacement of fire trucks, and the replacement and purchase of highway equipment.