Easton passes budget, votes down liquor option

EASTON – It took residents just 15 minutes to approve a $669,662 municipal budget during their annual town meeting on Monday night, according to Easton Town Manager Jackie Bradley.

Earlier the same day during the town election, five residents were voted into open municipal seats, and a liquor option referendum question failed by three votes.

Bradley said Tuesday that the liquor option was placed on the election ballot because residents circulated a petition on the matter. The town voted in 1993 to allow the sale of malt liquor in town, and the referendum question asked whether residents wanted to allow the sale of all other types of liquor in Easton on all days except Sunday.

With a vote of 81-78, Easton residents still will only be able to purchase beer and wine in their town.

Residents also voted on municipal seats. There were three selectmen positions – one two-year term and two two-year terms – and two three-year terms on the Easton school board.

Bruce Flewelling garnered the two-year term, and incumbents Michael Corey and Paul Dudley secured the three-year terms. On the school board, incumbents S. Todd Bradley and David Hopkins took the three-year terms.

During the annual town meeting, which Bradley said was held at Easton Elementary School and was attended by about 40 people, the municipal budget was approved as presented.

Expenses will be offset by $185,000 in revenues and $255,000 from the town’s surplus.

The town manager said this year’s budget is up about $47,000, or 7.63 percent, mostly because of insurance, solid waste costs and energy costs.

While officials do not know what the overall mill rate for the town will be because they are still waiting on town valuation and school figures, Bradley said he does not anticipate the municipal budget will effect an increase in the mill rate. Easton’s mill rate for 2005 was 20.75.

Bradley said she expects the mill rate to be set by July and for tax bills to go out by mid-August.