The Mason town operating budget is proposed to be $2.67 million, a 6.4% increase from the current budget, after the Select Board approved the proposed budget following the town’s budget hearing Tuesday.

The total expenditures, taking into account warrant articles, is expected to be about 4.6% more than last year if all articles pass.

Changes proposed in the budget include a 3% increase for employees, with the exception of some who received larger increases to address a wage disparity.

The line for a maintenance worker for government buildings is set to increase from about $16,500 to $46,800, which board Chair Kate Batcheller said would be for a part-time worker for up to 16 to 20 hours per week, after the retirement of grounds worker Wally Brown this year.

Also up was the salary for the town’s road agent, proposed to increase from $64,174 to $80,000. Batcheller said when considering the median wage for a road agent, Mason was way out of line with state averages.

Wages for the full library staff are expected to increase from $46,414 to $53,456. Batcheller said while this appears to be a big jump, it is an adjustment taking into account where employees should be following a sparse two years during the COVID pandemic.

Other increases include employee health and dental insurance, which is up by about 16%, causing insurance costs to rise by about $47,000.

Some contracted costs are also expected to rise, including for Brookline Ambulance, which is expected to increase from $85,625 to $106,234. Batcheller said the town is in a contract with Brookline for ambulance services for the next year, but said will be considering its options in the coming year.

“It is a significant jump,” Batcheller said.

Selectman John Suiter said the ambulance board of directors has already indicated to the town the costs are expected to rise again in 2025, and that the kind of increase Mason saw this year would not be sustainable year-to-year. Batcheller said the town will look at other options, but will have to weigh cost, response time and quality of care.

Also going up is the contract for the town’s dispatch communications, which is expected to increase by about 45%, including an increase of about $7,300 for communications and $9,700 for maintenance of equipment.

The budget presented on Tuesday had a placeholder for recycling fees for Mason’s participation in the Wilton Recycling Center, using last year’s cost of $81,759, but Selectman Charlie Moser said that number will likely have to be adjusted, as there is an anticipated increase of cost, but the exact n umber had yet to be voted on at the time of Mason’s budget hearing.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com.She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.