HOLDEN — Voters are slated to gather May 15 in the Wachusett Regional High School auditorium for the annual town meeting, where decisions are made on the town budget for the coming year, as well as on other spending plans.
The budget, the key item on the warrant for the meeting, is proposed at $73,918,179.
General expenditures add up to $62,425,202, with the Wachusett Regional School District budget using $35,475,140 of the town funds.
In addition to the proposed budget, voters will decide if they want to take $1,180,000 from the town stabilization fund and $100,000 from the open space stabilization fund to purchase “Spring Ledge Farm,” which includes about 112 acres in three parcels.
The Chapin Road Trust properties are located off Chapin Road.
The land, if purchased, would be under the control of the Conservation Commission, with a conservation restriction held by the Greater Worcester Land Trust, and would be for conservation and passive recreation uses.
The actual cost could be adjusted by grants, including a state reimbursement grant of $640,000 as well as $540,000 from the Land Trust and city of Worcester.
One article would seek to rescind the unused balance of a borrowing authorization from 2019 that included funding townwide water meter replacement, Jefferson water tank rehabilitation, sewer pump station repairs, and supervisory control and data acquisition planning, design and implementation.
An article would allow the voters to accept streets as well as approve the alteration of others.
Another would change the Flood Plain District Regulations Bylaw and street opening regulations.
A citizens petition seeks to prohibit use of thin-film plastic bags in retail and grocery stores, also encouraging use of reusable bags.
The meeting of town voters starts at 7 p.m. A quorum of 152 voters is required.
