NEWPORT — Voters in Newport approved a $10.2 million budget and decided a four-way race for two Selectboard seats during Town Meeting on Tuesday.
Incumbent Barry Connell was the top vote-getter for a three-year term on the Selectboard, receiving 292 votes. He’ll be joined by newcomer Herbert Tellor Jr., who garnered 230 votes.
They defeated Tobin Menard, who had 174 votes, and Robert Merrill Jr., with 112 votes.
Meanwhile, residents narrowly approved the town’s proposed budget. They voted, 251-239, to OK the spending plan, which amounts to a nearly $537,500, or 5.5%, increase over last year’s.
Officials estimate the budget will result in an 11-cent increase in the town’s property tax rate, or an additional $27.50 to a property valued at $250,000.
Residents also OK’d about $236,500 in other spending articles, including a $100,000 appropriation to study the Unity Road water system. That project, which will come from the town’s water fund, was approved, 356-136.
However, an effort to transfer $50,000 into a capital reserve fund for Newport’s next reevaluation failed, 287-281.