OAKLAND -- Residents approved a $3.6 million budget in the annual town meeting and passed five amendments from town councilors that trimmed an additional total of $27,347.

The cuts, each under $10,000, came from the budgets of the town library, police department, fire department, rescue, transfer station and public works.

Expenditures that residents approved included a wind power project that has been championed by Town Councilor Ralph Farnham. The project would erect a wind turbine that would generate power for the municipal buildings.

Residents approved a request to put $30,000 toward the project, and state dollars likely are available, Farnham said.

"Last year (the State of Maine Public Utilities Commission) gave out half a million dollars for wind generators across the state," he said.

Farnham said the town has enough space to put up several other wind turbines if this project proves successful. At least one of the proposals that the town council is considering could pay for itself through power generation within 12 years' time.

One woman in the audience spoke up and commended the town council for thinking outside the box to find methods, such as the wind power project, to save money for taxpayers in Oakland.

People in the audience applauded.

Other items that voters approved included:

• a $23,000 request for a new police cruiser

• a $80,000 request for funding for a fire department vehicle

• about $300,000 in road paving, repairs and projects

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com