MINOT — Voters passed a $1.45 million budget at the annual town meeting Saturday.

“And that amount,” Selectwoman Eda Tripp said, “means property owners will have to raise $25,604 less than they did last year.”

In approving the budget, townspeople followed recommendations by selectmen and members of the Budget Committee to the letter, including their recommendation to turn down the Fire Department’s $40,000 request for a new forestry truck.

Fire Chief Dean Campbell defended his request, noting that the department’s current truck, acquired in 2001 with grant money, was originally scheduled for replacement in 2014. This would have given the town seven years before having to come up with money to replace Engine 8, which was purchased in 1996 and scheduled for replacement in 2021. Campbell said it could cost about $350,000 to replace.

Townspeople voted to establish a Fire Department equipment and facilities reserve account and to seed it with $32,000. The money is left over from $180,000 voters approved one year ago to build additions to the Orchard and Central fire stations. Campbell estimated it would cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to complete the project.

Several residents argued for the return of any of the project’s remaining funds to the town’s General Fund, but the measure failed. Voters passed an article that rejected the transfer of about $7,000 left over from the department’s 2015 budget into the reserve account.

Voters approved the Highway Department’s request to replace its 2012 GMC pickup, raising $4,000 and tapping the highway equipment reserve account for about $10,000.

The request for the $10,000 zero-turn mower, for use primarily on the town’s expanded athletic fields, passed easily by a show of hands.

This summer’s paving program was approved at $328,000 with $260,000 of the money stemming from property taxes. State funds will cover the remainder.

Voters approved $22,000 for library services to be provided by the Auburn Public Library. Resident Susan Geismar noted this year the library will be setting up a satellite operation at the Minot Town Office as part of its “APL Cart” initiative to make the library more accessible to its members. It will be open from 4 to 6 p.m. every third Thursday of the month.

Voters also approved paying a county tax assessment of $202,108. A number of attendees noted the Budget Committee’s vote of recommendation had been 2-2-2, with two voting in favor, two voting against and two abstaining, and that selectmen took no action.

Questioned on the board’s recommendation, Tripp said, “It was our way of saying, ‘We don’t like what’s happening.’”

Emily Darby, Minot’s representative to the county Budget Committee, noted that the amount on the warrant is actually the amount the county Budget Committee had sought but was overridden by county commissioners. Darby said it appeared the commissioners raised Minot’s assessment to $203,677.

John Geismar served as moderator and resident Roger Goodwin was honored as the town’s Spirit of America Award winner.

In municipal office elections Friday, Steve French and Dan Gilpatric were re-elected as selectmen, receiving 50 and 47 votes, respectively; Steve Holbrook was re-elected to the RSU 16 School Committee with 51 votes; and Annette Hemond, running as a write-in candidate, was re-elected to the School Committee with 36 votes.

Fifty-five of the town’s 2,029 registered voters cast ballots Friday, and 70 attended the town meeting Saturday.

“Sad, very sad,” said Registrar of Voters Hester Gilpatric in describing the turnout.