BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Dunbarton’s annual Town Meeting will take place Tuesday, March 13, and among several other articles, will vote to approve a 3.2 percent operating budget increase and a new full-time police officer position.

This year’s proposed operating budget of $1,825,744 represents a $56,000 increase over last year’s approved budget of $1,769,688.

The operating budget, with no additional warrant articles, will raise taxes 4 cents from $1.95 per $1,000 assessed property value to $1.99 per $1,000 assessed property value.

The increase represents $12 on a $300,000 home.

The town will again vote on the official ballot law, commonly known as SB2, as well.

Though SB2 failed by a vote of 502-241 on the town ballot last year, a petitioned warrant article has once again been submitted requesting official ballot law in Dunbarton.

The SB2 form of government allows residents to vote on warrant articles through an official ballot on Election Day, rather than in a public forum at Town or School District Meeting.

But residents may still amend and potentially change the intent of an article at a deliberative session that precedes Election Day.

Another article requests $68,565 to hire, train and equip a new police officer.

Other articles on this year’s ballot include requests for $32,000 for the purchase of protective equipment and a gear washer for the fire department, $29,000 for a new skid-steer for the transportation station, and the removal of $50,000 from surplus for a new roof on the town library and painting of the library and town office building.

There is also a request to remove $300,000 from the town conservation fund to purchase four lots to be used as the Bela Brook Conservation Area.

Dunbarton Town Meeting takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at the community center at Dunbarton Elementary School.