SABATTUS — It’s not $1 a year, but it’s better than $21,600.

Town Manager Tony Ward told selectmen Tuesday night that he has tentatively reached a new deal with American Tower Corp. for the right to use its tower for the town’s police and fire antennas.

American Tower approached the town this winter to say an old, inherited contract with the town to rent space on its tower for $1 a year was expiring and initially proposed a new annual agreement for $21,600.

When Ward updated selectmen last month, he’d negotiated it down to $11,172.

He’s gotten that down further to $9,600 a year for both antennas, but said that appears to be as low as the company is willing to go.

Ward said it will be up to selectmen to approve a final, one-year contract in two weeks.

The town intends to keep exploring its other options over the next year.

kskelton@sunjournal.com