Residents debated the operating budget and the need to treat milfoil in the town’s ponds at Dunbarton’s annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, March 10.

The selectmen discussed the town operating budget for this year of $1,871,319, a 0 percent increase over last year’s budget.

Chairman Leslie Hammond indicated the current economic downturn as reason not to make any increases.

“Given the dire predictions for the economy, we decided to craft a conservative budget,” said Hammond at the meeting. “It’s a plain vanilla budget.”

The town does have an unreserved surplus of $187,954 from 2008, but Hammond said it will be saved for 2010.

“We chose not to use the surplus this year, but to see it out to next year.”

Hammond also indicated that there was a 5 percent reduction in all town departments and no pay raises for this year.

The town also discussed a warrant article which would have appropriated $25,000 toward the treatment of milfoil in Gorham Pond. Ann Merrill, of Holiday Shore Drive, presented the issue to the selectmen.

“Our property values are being decreased and recreational value is being depleted,” she said.

Milfoil is a naturally occurring plant in pond water that can harm diversity and stunt fish growth. It can grow to 20 feet long and cause problems for swimmers.

There is no permanent fix, but according to Merrill, chemicals can keep the milfoil from filling ponds. Selectmen at the meeting suggested this year is not the economic climate for the appropriation.

After a lengthy debate between residents, the town defeated the article.

Residents also passed an article to appropriate $25,000 toward the revaluation of the town by a vote of 83-79. Selectmen did not recommend passage of the article, preferring to discuss the issue in 2010. The state mandates revaluations every five years. Dunbarton has 16,016 parcels, or properties, that would be involved in the revaluation.

Other articles that passed included $10,000 toward the maintenance and repair of cemetery monuments in the town and $275 for the Town Forest Committee.