Residents at the Warren town meeting voted Saturday to approve a budget that was 2 percent greater than last year’s, although concerns about fiscal issues were raised with several items.

About 125 residents from the town of 3,800 people were at the meeting. All 36 articles passed with only minor discussion, according to Town Manager Grant Watmough. Questions were largely about the town meeting process and some general concerns about money in these tight economic times.

A motion to cut reserve funds in half failed, Watmough said. Among the budget items approved were $195,747 for administrative salaries, $64,190 for the fire department, $76,500 for dispatch services, $243,200 for the transfer station and $280,000 for paving and road repair.

Residents approved an article to appropriate $578,850 from the undedicated revenue account to reduce the 2007 tax commitment. They also approved an article to appropriate $250,000 from the Fund Balance to be used to reduce the 2008 tax commitment.

Earlier in the week, residents elected two selectmen – incumbent Frank Buran and Rick Parent Jr., who had been a selectman previously.

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