NORTH ANDOVER — A new police station, a preschool and the town budget will be the main topics at Town Meeting when it begins tomorrow at 7 p.m.
The Finance Committee, School Committee and selectmen could all back the same budget for the second year in a row. The $77 million proposal for fiscal 2009 is a compromise between the three groups.
The three are expected to vote on whether to recommend the most recent version of the budget at meetings scheduled before Town Meeting starts.
"(Agreeing on the budget) gives a clear message to Town Meeting that the three boards are working together to draft a budget that is fair and equitable," Town Manager Mark Rees said. "Obviously, all departments have additional needs, but we all recognize the limited resources we have."
Town Meeting will also decide whether to borrow money to convert the former Merrimack Valley Credit Union building into a police station, a $5.7 million project, and build a $4 million, 10-room preschool next to Atkinson Elementary School.
Another big-budget item to be decided is whether to give $1.35 million in Community Preservation Act money to the Neighborhood of Affordable Housing.
The money would be used for a $10 million project to convert the former Greenery nursing home into 42 affordable apartments known as Stevens Corner. The Community Preservation money comes from a 3 percent surcharge added to property tax bills.
Town Meeting will be at North Andover High School, 430 Osgood St.
