CLINTON — Residents gave solid approval to all of the 36 budget items in Tuesday’s referendum as they approved the proposed town budget of $2.48 million.
The biggest approval was for the $289,075 snowplowing contract, 293-52. Other big-ticket items the 362 residents — out of 2,269 registered voters — who voted Tuesday were:
• Fire/EMS budget: $390,369, 272-73;
• Transfer station: $316,320, 247-90; and
• Police Department: $243,160, 217-127.
Residents also agreed to draw from the undesignated fund balance, 301-52, and that the levy limit would not exceed $250,000, 203-140; and to seek a contract for the town’s road work, 273-67. The proposal to replace the Highway Department with a highway maintenance contractor means that a full-time employee and a part-time one will lose their jobs June 30.
The budget is 0.09 percent greater than last year’s budget of $2.26 million.
Increases in town salaries and insurance costs contributed to the extra $210,662 in the budget this year, as well as more money for snowplowing so the town can seek bids when its current snowplowing contract ends, according to Town Manager Pamela Violette.
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