Annual town meeting on Feb. 18

SALISBURY — The Board of Finance authorized an expenditure of up to $35,000 for architect’s fees for the Town Grove project during the regular quarterly meeting Thursday, Jan. 15.

The funds for the architect had already been appropriated and do not represent new spending, noted finance Chairman Bill Willis.

The board also asked First Selectman Curtis Rand to change the date of the annual town meeting (to receive the final audited report for 2007-08) to Wednesday, Feb. 18, from Wednesday, Feb. 4. The meeting will be at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.

The board asked for the annual meeting to be pushed back two weeks because the auditing firm indicated copies of the final report would not be available for a full week before the original meeting date.

“We want to be sure the townspeople have a chance to see it,� said Willis.

Reports from the first selectman, town comptroller and tax collector were all “on target,� said Willis.

“We’re at about 50 percent of expenditures, maybe a little more. Nothing is out of whack.�

Once the audit of finances is approved Feb. 18, work will begin on the budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

On March 5, the finance board will receive draft budgets from the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education. Adjustments can be made until April 14 and 16, when the final budgets are expected.

The public hearing will be held Monday, April 27, and on Tuesday, April 28, the finance board will do a final budget review and then vote to send the budgets to the public at the budget town meeting.

The Region One education budget referendum will be held May 5, and  Salisbury residents will vote on the municipal spending plan and the budget for Salisbury Central School on Wednesday, May 20. The Board of Finance meets immediately after to set the mill rate.

All meetings are at Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.

The board also appointed Carl Williams to complete the term of Zenas Block, who died in November 2008.

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