Sweden residents had the chance to air their views about the Town of Sweden’s proposed 2002 budget at an October 23 public hearing. The proposal includes a spending increase of $50,000 or about two percent of the total $2.99 million budget.

Resident Donovan Dunn suggested that Sweden freeze salaries and find other ways to reduce spending. The town has proposed three percent raises for employees. Dunn said he would like to see Sweden follow President George W. Bush’s example and give the taxpayers rebates.

Rob Sweeting suggested the town shouldn’t turn down county highway jobs to work on the new town park. He said it was important to continue bringing in that revenue stream. Highway Superintendent Craig Smith said Sweden did perform some county work this year, but did turn down some work to concentrate on the park.

Bob Cherrington, a candidate for town board, questioned the level of the town’s debt service. Supervisor Nat Lester III stated that the town has a little less than $2 million in debt - $1 million for the new town park; the remaining debt is on the senior center, the library and highway equipment. "The state would allow us to borrow $29 million," he said. "We’re 95 percent below what the state would allow. That seems reasonable."

Sweden will likely adopt the 2002 budget at its November 13 meeting.

In other business from the regular October 23 Sweden Town Board meeting: the board scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, October 30 to consider an application by Sprint to build a cell tower on Redman Road. The meeting will be held a 6:45 p.m. at the town hall. A public hearing on the proposal has already been held.

•The board amended the rules of the consolidated water district to reduce the fee for installing a water service to a household by $500 if the homeowner signs up for installation at least 10 days prior to a new water main being run down the road. The reduction acknowledges that it is less costly for the town to install water service to a home while it is installing a new line. The standard fee for installing a water service is $900.

•A public hearing was scheduled for November 13 at 7 p.m. regarding the creation of a water district on East Avenue. The new water district will be a joint project with the Town of Clarkson.