BRADFORD, Vt. — Voters at Town Meeting passed proposals for a general fund budget and a highway budget totaling $2.1 million but defeated a proposal to spend $35,000 a year on a tractor to clear snow from the town’s sidewalks.

Resident Paul Hunt said that the $1.12 million general fund budget should be amended to say that anyone who pays taxes within the week after they’re due will face a 2% penalty rather than the current 8% charge, which he called “onerous.”

But his proposed amendment was met with disagreement from some residents.

“I can’t see any logical reason for (extending) the period of paying your bill,” Daniel Perry said.

The amendment was narrowly defeated and the general fund bill was passed. The highway fund of $995,000 also passed, with little discussion.

One of the most controversial articles facing voters Tuesday was a proposal to lease-purchase a snow-removal tractor with five yearly payments of $35,000. Selectboard Chairman Ted Unkles said the proposal was a response to voters’ concerns last year about poor sidewalk conditions.

But some questioned why the town should spend money on a tractor when a private contractor could do the work for less money.

Chris Taylor suggested the town revisit its contract with the worker who plows their sidewalks, adding that the contract doesn’t expressly say the sidewalks need to be safe or fully cleared.

“You have ice, you have puddling in all of them because all the sidewalks are below grade,” Taylor said. “There’s a lot more sidewalk work that needs to be done before the town goes after a piece of equipment.”

Unkles said the machinery could be a cost savings in the long run, because tractors typically last up to 17 years.

“If we want the sidewalks cleared, we’re going to have to spend the money to do it,” Bud Haas, another resident, said.

The article was defeated by a clear margin.

Voters at Tuesday’s meeting also re-elected Sonya McLam for town clerk, Jennifer Rivers for town treasurer and Selectboard members Ryan Lockwood and Dan Perry.

Anna Merriman can be reached at amerriman@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.