WOODLAND – Voters on Tuesday night approved a tax commitment that was 11 percent above last year’s commitment to operate town government and to pay estimated education costs and county taxes.

Town officials estimate those expenses will add another 2 mills to the tax rate of $19.75 per $1,000 in property valuation.

In addition, voters authorized town officials to take $54,000 from the surplus fund to expand the cemetery and to conduct a re-evaluation of the town.

The approved $514,571 tax commitment was $54,643 higher than that of last year. Of that sum, an additional $24,886 was allotted for an estimated education bill, and $5,143 more for county taxes.

Voters increased the general government account by $3,350 for salaries, benefits and office supplies. They also put an extra $6,333 into the road maintenance account and raised the annual stipend of selectmen by $200 to $1,700.

The snow removal account was $3,000 higher, and $9,500 more was needed to meet health insurance costs. Workers’ compensation insurance was up another $1,300, and a few other accounts showed slight increases.

Paula Harris, town clerk, estimated state revenue sharing receipts would decrease by $2,568. She said the tax base would be aided by new construction in the community. Other revenues will help to offset the costs.

Most of the discussion in the two-hour meeting centered on town requests to transfer $12,000 from surplus to purchase six acres near the local cemetery and $42,000 for the re-evaluation of the town.

The 6-acre plot is situated at the back of the cemetery on the Woodland Center Road and is to be kept in agriculture use until converted into the cemetery, 1 acre at a time.

The 4-acre cemetery site had served the community for the last 125 years, residents were informed during the discussion. The potential seller of the property earlier had agreed to keep the lot tended until it was used.

The last property evaluation was conducted 20 years ago.

At the polls Monday, incumbents were returned to three-year terms, unopposed. They were Harold Tardy, selectman, and Cynthia Noyes, school board member.

Compiled by Gloria Flannery