LISBON – The Lisbon Town Council voted on Wednesday to adopt a $2.6 million budget for 2013.

The budget lowered the tax rate from $5.37 per $1,000 in 2012 to $5.35 in 2013.

Town Council Member Alan D. Dailey said the decrease is “miniscule” but said both the Fire District and Library raised their budgets over last year, something the town has no control over.

The Fire District raised its tax rate from $0.99 per $1,000 in 2012 to $1.08 in 2013 and the Library raised it from $0.27 in 2012 to $0.31 in 2013.

Conversely, the Highway Department lowered its tax rate from $4.10 per $1,000 in 2012 to $3.03 in 2013.

This reduction and some application of fund balance money allowed the town to slightly lower its overall tax rate.

The town’s budget officer William E. Dashnaw said the final fund balance for 2012 will be known at the town’s December meeting.

Town Supervisor James W. Armstrong said the town managed not to breech the 2 percent tax cap with the new budget.

Mr. Dashnaw said the town is “extremely under” the tax cap. The town also set up a capital reserve fund set to accrue $200,000 in three years.

Mr. Dashnaw said it would be prudent to reserve the money in case the town wants to purchase a new snow plow.

Two to three years down the road, Highway Superintendent Timothy G. Dow said he expects the town would need to buy a new snow plow.

Mr. Dashnaw said if the town wanted to purchase something else, they could move the money into another reserve fund.

Mr. Dailey said of the budget, overall, that “we didn’t raise your taxes.”

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