MINOT — Selectmen made it clear Monday that they will trim a few items in Town Administrator Arlan Saunders’ proposed 2016 municipal budget.

The proposed budget stands at about $1.75 million, which is $150,000 more than for 2015.

Selectmen said they believed residents would find it hard to vote for a budget with a nearly 10 percent increase next March.

Selectmen will present their recommended spending plan to the Budget Committee on Dec. 21.

In looking over the budget Monday, the board took issue with the Fire Department’s request for $40,000 to replace the forestry truck and a proposed 2 percent pay raise for employees.

Saunders is recommending $198,500 for roads, instead of $184,550, because the the town usually spends about $200,000 and overdrafts on the account. He said the increase would be offset by decreasing the winter roads budget by that amount.

“We should be budgeting what we know we will spend,” Saunders said.

The proposed paving budget is a $33,000 increase, to $328,000, for Verrill, North Verrill and Old Garfield roads, and Center Hill Road near Auburn.

Saunders said the budget includes increases that cannot be avoided: county taxes up about $5,000; health insurance premiums up nearly $6,000; solid waste disposal up $8,000; Auburn Public Library up $1,000; street lights up $100.

There is also a request for $10,000 for a second riding mower. Saunders said the town mower has seen about 1,200 hours of use. “A homeowner wouldn’t put in that many hours if they spent a hour every week mowing their lawn, 50 weeks of the year for 20 years.”

He said the highway crew is responsible for mowing six ball fields and could be in trouble if the mower quits in June.

In other business, selectmen met with resident John Varney and worked out a consent decree that says if he signs in Dec. 21, he will have 60 days to bring his Shaw Hill Road property into compliance with the town’s ordinance regarding junk cars.

Saunders also reported resident Todd Ross of Marston Hill Road has removed all but two unregistered vehicles from his property and is in compliance with the ordinance.

The board voted to close the Town Office at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, and reopen it Monday, Dec. 28.