Polls will open and the floor portion of Town Meeting for voting on elected officers and proposed zoning amendments will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at Springfield Town Hall. The floor meeting will recess at noon, but polls will remain open until 7 p.m. The second portion of Town Meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, also at Town Hall to act on all remaining warrant articles.

Springfield, n.h. — Voters next week will decide contested elections and weigh in on the proposed purchase of a $240,000 tanker truck.

The proposed budget for municipal operations in fiscal year 2018 is $1.29 million, a decrease of about $8,000, which marks at least the second year in the row that town leaders have avoided increases in the general-fund budget.

Selectboard member Leigh Callaway said the current tax rate was about $3.95 per $1,000 in valuation, but said town leaders wouldn’t know how the rate may change from this proposed budget until state officials give them more information in the fall.

Total spending in the current fiscal year is budgeted at about $1.5 million, and for the coming fiscal year outside warrant articles such as the tanker truck request would bring the total closer to that amount.

Although the 1992-era truck is still in fair shape, Callaway said, “We are aware that fire equipment is getting more and more expensive, so the longer you wait the more expensive it becomes.”

About half the cost of the truck would come from existing funds, and the town would be authorized to take out a $140,000 bond to pay for the rest.

Town leaders would raise $16,175 for the first year’s payment, according to the warrant, but Callaway said that the payment would take place in August, when other debt service will end.

As a result, residents are not likely to notice the effect of the tanker bond on their tax bills.

Residents also may approve two proposed zoning amendments. The first would change town ordinances to permit accessory dwellings in zones allowing single-family homes, a modification to align town rules with state law.

The second, labeled Article 3 on the warrant, would modify the definitions in Springfield’s zoning ordinance to “provide additional clarification of the types of construction that may constitute a ‘structure.’ ”

On the Selectboard, George McCusker III, Annette Granger and Richard Hendl are competing for a single three-year seat.

Selectboard Chairman Don Hill is not running for re-election this year. McCusker last year lost a re-election bid to current member Tamara Butcher.

Among several other races where she is registered as a candidate, Granger also is running for the town Budget Committee in a four-way contest for three seats. The other candidates are Justin Hastings, Kenneth Jacques and Brian Putney.

In the Zoning Board election, Granger, Brian O’Day and Susan Chiarella are running for two seats.

On the Planning Board, Granger, Darrin Patten and Peter Keene are competing for two spots.

Granger is also listed in an uncontested election for cemetery trustee, and has filed to run against Arthur Bobruff for library trustee.

Rob Wolfe can be reached at rwolfe@vnews.com or at 603-727-3242.