PATTEN — Residents gathered April 19 for their annual town meeting and approved a budget that is up 4 percent over last year.
According to Town Manager Raymond Foss, the municipal budget for 2016 is $1,385,222, which is an increase of $52,977 over last year’s spending plan. The largest line item increase in the budget is in General Government, which is up $37,155 (21 percent).
Foss stated the increase in General Government was due to salary increases for staff and increased workload caused by the resignation of the previous town manager last October, which resulted in the town clerk picking up extra duties until Foss was hired in March.
The Veterans account, at $6,646 is up 565 percent over the previous year’s figure of $1,000. Foss explained that large percentage increase was to allow for construction of a new veterans’ monument for the town.
The Highway Capital account is up 92 percent at $50,000. Foss said the increase was needed to allow the town to do more road repairs this season.
The Patten Pioneer Days account is also up 50 percent, $7,500, for the purpose of organizing a 175th birthday celebration for the town this summer.
Lana Tucker and Ken Perkins were re-elected to the town’s board of selectmen. Tucker received 143 votes, while Perkins garnered 131.
Nate Richardson was elected to the RSU 50 board with 48 write-in votes.
