ROYALTON — By the slimmest of margins, voters defeated a proposed 1% local option tax on meals, lodging and alcohol.

After a lengthy discussion on the proposed local option tax, a motion to table the matter until next year failed. Following an inconclusive floor vote, Town Moderator Allison Fulcher called for paper balloting. The result was a 51-51 deadlock, which meant the article did not pass.

About a dozen residents spoke about the potential town revenue stream in a discussion that included concerns about the impact of the 1% tax on local businesses and on families.

“Is it ethical to tax food when we’ve seen a dramatic rise in our food prices?” Karl Rosengrant asked.

Hartford and Woodstock are the only Upper Valley towns that currently impose a 1% local options tax on meals, rooms and alcohol. Statewide, there are 28 towns that collect the tax.

Ahead of Tuesday’s floor vote, Selectboard member Nell Gwin told residents that the board had not determined where potential revenue from the tax, which she estimated at least $24,000 annually, would be spent.

As the owner of several short-term rental units in town, resident Aaron Slater spoke in favor of the tax.

“I feel happy to contribute in this way,” he said, noting that he supports requiring that visitors to Royalton “pay their share of what they get from visiting here.”

In other floor voting, the town’s $2.1 million operating budget and $1.5 million highway budget passed with no opposition.

Voters also showed their support for the South Royalton Senior Citizen Center, which had asked for $10,000 in taxpayer’s money to support operating expenses. But voters didn’t think that was enough. In a near-unanimous vote from the floor, residents increased the nonprofit’s appropriation to $15,000.

Resident Betty Benson, who said she was speaking at Town Meeting for the first time, took the microphone to make the motion for the $5,000 increase. She noted that the senior center pays the town $8,000 in rent for use of the Royalton Academy building from its appropriation, leaving it with $2,000 to provide meals and programming.

“I think we can do better by our seniors, especially those who are homebound,” Benson said.

Benson began volunteering for the senior center about four years ago, she said.

The center provides twice-weekly meal delivery to seniors, and a Tuesday meal at the center as well as some social activities.

Several residents spoke in favor of the funding increase, which passed with only one dissenting “nay.”

In all-day Australian balloting, Royalton voters had to decide a contested Selectboard race and whether to adopt flood hazard area regulations that would restrict the development and improvement of properties in state and federally-regulated river corridors. Results were unavailable early Tuesday evening.

Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.