WEST PARIS — Officials approved the annual town meeting warrant Thursday evening, asking voters to consider not increasing spending.

The 38-article warrant includes expenditures tallying $1.12 million, which is $6,000 less than last year because of a drop in General Assistance claims.

The proposed budget approved by selectmen and endorsed by the Budget Committee is nearly identical to last year’s, keeping existing programming fully funded without creating any new positions.

Included is $282,835 for town administration, $335,000 for the Highway Department, $88,000 for the Fire Department, $85,000 for the transfer station and $30,000 to the library. The Fire Department budget would increase $3,700, the transfer station’s would decrease roughly $6,300 and the other departments have no changes.

Voters will also be asked to choose a selectman to succeed Wade Rainey, who confirmed he does not intend to seek re-election. 

Rainey, 71, said he has been serving as a town official for 24 years. 

“I’ve been doing it for a long time. It’s time to hang up my hat,” he said.

Unlike some towns where candidates file nomination forms, candidates here are nominated directly from the floor of the town meeting. 

Peter Collette, 52, a heating systems technician, said he was interested in vying for seat.

It was unknown if other candidates expressed interest in pursuing the seat.  

A self-described fiscal conservative, Collette said he would work to save taxpayers’ money. He declined to comment if there were any pressing issues he believed needed to be addressed. 

“It’s the people’s money; we’ve got to do the best we can with it. You’ve got to keep things cheap,” Collette said. 

Voters will also be asked to choose a new assessor and SAD 17 director. 

The annual town meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in the gymnasium of the Agnes Gray Elementary School.