Voters in Pittsfield passed all 30 articles on Election Day except for the one that annually gains the most attention: the operating budget.

The town’s proposed operating budget of $5.74 million failed by a 197-189 vote, meaning the town’s default budget of $5.17 million, a 0.3% decrease from last year, will go into effect.

That equals a tax impact of slightly less than last year’s, which was $8.41 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Elsewhere, the second most expensive article, $450,000 sought for a new tanker truck for the fire department, passed by a vote of 317-70. A grant of $400,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will leave a $50,000 balance, to be withdrawn from the fire department tanker capital reserve fund.

Another big-money item passed by a 229-156 vote, included spending $250,000 for a new dump truck, with $176,000 coming from the public works capital reserve fund. That leaves $74,000 to be raised through taxation, a tax impact of $0.21 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

In a 232-145 vote, residents agreed to invest $115,000 into their fire department pumper capital reserve fund, a tax impact of 32 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

By a 319-60 vote, residents chose to close the police department’s drug awareness and educational expendable trust fund, with the $10.63 currently in the account to be transferred to the general fund.

Also, a police cruiser priced at $63,000 was approved by a 283-107 margin, with all the money coming from previously established funds, meaning the tax rate will not be affected.

And the fire department was awarded $45,000, all of which will come from an established fund and a grant, for breathing equipment.

In the lone contested race, Pat Heffernan (213 votes) and Arthur St. Laurent (177) won the two open slots on the zoning board of adjustment. Heather Elliott missed the cut with 168 votes.