Voters approved a $29.8 million budget for fiscal 2011 at Town Meeting Tuesday, along with a restaurant meals tax increase of 0.75 percent, and $14,500 to study the feasibility of building a wind turbine on town-owned land in Central Village.
The budget, which is expected to require school layoffs and cuts in services across town departments, was passed unanimously. Though voters approved a higher meals tax, they rejected an increase in the hotel room tax, with many speakers saying it would unfairly target one hotel.
So-called local option taxes, which were both rejected at a Special Town Meeting last October, caused the most debate.
The meals increase, which raised the tax from 6.25 percent to 7, is expected to raise $110,000 in fiscal 2011 for the town. It was recommended by both the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee.
“It’s needed and necessary for the town,” said Selectman Craig Dutra, who added that [...]

Original post by Grant Welker