$19.9M budget up for vote.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Debbie LaPlaca

CHARLTON - Voters will act on a $19.9 million budget and 22 additional articles at the annual town meeting 7 p.m. Monday at Charlton Middle School.

The town's projected revenues for next year are up about 4.5 percent, and new growth is estimated at $300,000; $1.3 million is in the stabilization account.

The proposed fiscal 2008 budget of $19.9 million is an increase of $1.2 million, or 6.4 percent, over current spending.

Significant changes include an increase of $61,000 in the selectmen's environmental and legal expenses, most of which will be used to remediate well-water contamination found on town land at 4 Dresser Hill Road. The Fire Department budget calls for a 16.6 percent increase, to $1.3 million, to hire one firefighter-EMT and enable 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service. The new library will receive an increase of $72,945 to open and operate the new building. The town's portion of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District's $42.9 million budget is $9.1 million, a 7.6 percent increase over this year's assessment.

Voters will...