DOVER- This year, the town of Dover will tackle 20 articles on Town Meeting day. There are no apparent controversial issues to consider, but one of the articles could change town mailing procedures, while the other two deal with budget increases. Keeping up with rising costs is a dilemma most cities and towns are struggling with. The town of Dover is no different and residents will decide at Town Meeting if the three major articles are worth passing.

Article 10 asks “Shall the town provide notice of availability of the auditor’s report to voters or residents of the town in lieu of mailing by posting notices in five public places and advertising in the local newspaper at least 30 days before the annual meeting.” Selectboard chair Linda Holland said the town is trying to save money where it can and they determined that cutting down on postage was one alternative. If article 10 passes, the town will no longer mail out the auditor’s report, but inform residents about its availability by other means. “If you go to the post office, you’ll find (the reports) in all those bins and thrown away. It’s a huge waste. If it passes, the report will not be mailed to everyone unless they ask by request,” said Holland.

Article 12 asks “Shall the voters authorize general fund expenditure for operational expenses of $1,782,654 for the coming year. The proposed budget for 2010-2011 is a $47,419 increase from the 2009-2010 budget of $1,735,235. Holland said this year’s budget increase is “nothing substantial.” There were a number of small increases in several line items. One of them was allocating money for the town reappraisal.

The town is almost finished with the reappraisal and the selectboard set aside additional funds during the grievance period. The 2009-2010 budget for the town auditors was $1,000. This year, they budgeted $5,000. Legal fees increased from $12,500 in 2009-2010 to $17,500 for 2010-2011. The budget for Sullivan & Powers, the external auditors, also increased from $9,500 to $13,000 in 2010-2011.

Other reasons for the budget increase may include a $500 request for West Dover Fire Department maintenance needs, a 50-cent pay increase for town employees, and a $900 increase in the police station’s fuel and heating costs.

Article 13 asks “Shall the voters authorize highway fund expenditure for operational expenses of $1,282,468.10 for the coming year.” Last year’s budget for the town highway department was $1,247,621. This year they are requesting a $34,847 increase to cover mowing, fuel, and heating costs, and culvert replacement.

Selectboard clerk Nona Monis said many of the costs in the town and highway budgets were out of the selectboard’s control. On March 2, voters will decide if both budgets are sufficient for maintaining the town’s business.

For more information on the 2010 town warrant call town clerk Andy McLean at (802) 464-5100.