PHILLIPS — Citizens will set the 2016-17 town operating budget and elect four municipal officers at the town meeting on Thursday. 

Starting at 6 p.m. at the Phillips Area Community Center, registered voters will act on a $1.28 million spending plan. This year’s budget, if approved, will include an increase of less than 3 percent over last year’s $1.25 million, according to Interim Town Manager Maureen Haley.

One proposal is an investment in an excavator, with a lease/purchase payment plan expected to save the town money in the long run.

The Public Works Department leases an excavator for road work for $4,500 a month, plus the excavator’s transport costs each way. The lease/purchase plan would give the highway crew an excavator year round. The loan payment would be $16,687 a year for 10 years, based on $144,500 for the equipment and $22,376 in interest.  

One of the town’s largest expenses is the maintenance and repair of its roads.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee recommend spending $590,936. The amount includes a portion of the operational expenses required for maintaining and improving 40 miles of roads and 58 miles of roads for winter maintenance. The budget also includes salaries and benefits for the road commissioner; two full-time employees and two part-time call-in employees; operating costs for the town garage; repair and maintenance of the department’s equipment and vehicles; winter sand and salt; gravel; patch; minor equipment purchases; utilities; fuel; and $200,000 for capital road improvements.

The Budget Committee and selectmen recommend taking $50,000 from undesignated funds to reduce the tax commitment. They also recommend taking up to $30,000 for contingency expenses.

Voters at the Phillips town meeting Thursday will elect candidates from the floor. Evelyn Wilbur will serve again as town clerk, if elected. Incumbent Selectman Andy Phillips will serve another three-year term if elected. Voters will elect two school board members. Current Director John Foss is moving from the area and has two years of his term remaining. Karen Campbell said she will try for that seat. Incumbent Amy Alexcovich has indicated she will serve a three-year term if elected.