BALDWIN — Around 70 people at Saturday’s town meeting approved an estimated $626,000 municipal budget and increased the snow removal budget by $20,000.

Norman McKenney, who started his 36th year on the Board of Selectman on Saturday, said residents voted to give a $1 hourly wage increase to the selectmen, the town clerk, treasurer, tax collector, road commissioner and members of the highway road crew. “We have had the same pay for quite a number of years, probably five or six anyway,” he said.

About $400,000 of the budget increases will be raised by taxes. McKenney said this winter forced residents to increase the snow removal budget. From January to the town meeting, Baldwin usually spends $25,000 to $30,000 for winter road maintenance. So far, the town has spent $52,000, he said. Each year, voters raised $80,000 for winter road maintenance. This year, residents voted to raise $100,000.

“If the good Lord puts it down there, we have to take care of it. Everything is so expensive now, but people need their roads plowed to go to work and make a living,” McKenney said.

Residents also authorized the Board of Selectmen and road commissioner to spend up to $138,000 to purchase a new plow truck.

Allan Dolloff was elected to the Board of Selectman. He received 92 votes over Glen Reynolds, who received 63 votes.

Josiah Pierce was elected to the board of directors for School Administrative District 55.

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