TINMOUTH – Voters will consider reduced spending plans at town meeting next month as proposed municipal and education budgets are less than the totals approved by residents last year.

The municipal spending plan was decreased slightly from $194,055 to $191,310, a difference of $2,745. The highway spending plan of $428,605 is $14,875 less than the $443,480 approved by voters last March.

On the school side, the proposed education budget of $1,396,856 is a decrease of $69,472 from the current $1,466,328 spending plan.

"Municipal taxes are projected to go down three cents," Town Clerk Gail Fallar said. "The school taxes might go down three cents, too, depending on what the Legislature does."

Fallar estimated the municipal tax would likely drop from 53 to 50 cents per $100 valuation if residents approve the town and highway spending plans.

"We held the line on everything and we decided not to do $25,000 in paving," she explained.

The education tax rate of $1.29 could drop about three cents to an estimated $1.26, according to Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union business Manager Louis Milazzo.

"It depends on what the Legislature does with the estimated homestead base rate and the base education amount," he said.

Milazzo explained the fiscal 2009 education budget ended with a $150,811 surplus because of secondary and special education costs coming in lower than anticipated.

Tinmouth school directors have proposed using $75,000 of the surplus to establish a tax rate stabilization fund and $25,000 for a capital improvement fund, he said.

"The other $50,000 is being given back to taxpayers to lower taxes," Milazzo said.

Expenses were reduced in a couple of areas of the proposed education budget of $1,396,856, according to the business manager.

"The savings were in two categories – special education and secondary in general, but most of it was special ed," Milazzo said.

In the only contested race on this year's ballot, incumbent Stanley Wilbur is being challenged by Shaun Young for a three-year Select Board seat.

An old-fashioned traditional town meeting with a pot luck lunch will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Tinmouth Community Center at noon.

An informational meeting has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 1 at the Tinmouth Community Center. Australian ballot voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 2 at the same location.