PHILLIPS — Hoping for more voters, selectmen have scheduled a Thursday evening town meeting to approve the coming year’s budget.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Phillips Area Community Center on Depot Street.

“This fiscal year’s budget is $1,171,826, which is a small increase over last year,” Selectman Ray Gaudette said.

State aid to the town has been reduced, Gaudette said, including a $9,000 cut in road repair funds.

The town’s tax rate is $20.80 per $1,000 of property valuation. The recently approved RSU 58 budget requires Phillips to pay $852,729, which is an increase of $7.30 per $1,000 of valuation.

After electing a moderator, voters will be asked to choose one selectman and three school directors. Nominations for all positions will be taken from the floor.

Gaudette said he will continue to serve another three years, if elected. Town Clerk Evelyn Wilbur will run for re-election to a one-year term. School board members John Foss, Faith Richard and Dan Worcester have no challengers for their seats.

One big-ticket warrant article asks voters to approve a lease-purchase agreement for a 2014 International with plow and wing. Selectmen would sign a 10-year agreement for $145,000. Another $32,500 would be taken from unassigned funds as the down payment. If voters approve moving ahead with the plan, they would need to raise and appropriate $17,871 for the first year’s lease-purchase payment.

Selectmen and the Budget Committee also recommend raising and appropriating $107,750 for the the solid waste and recycling budget. That includes wages for two part-time employees, trucking and disposal fees, repair and maintenance of the compactor and containers, required training and immunizations, state licensing fees, building maintenance and repairs, operating supplies and tire disposal.

They also recommend $13,570 for care of the cemeteries and $4,430 for care of the parks.

The town maintains reserve accounts for public works, the Fire Department, transfer station and veterans’ gravestone repairs. If approved, departments will receive $20,000, $15,000, $5,000 and $1,000, respectively.

The Phillips Historical Society is requesting $5,000, but selectmen and the Budget Committee recommend $2,000 if the organization is willing to provide $2,000 in matching funds.