NORRIDGEWOCK — Residents approved a municipal spending plan of $3.12 million at the annual town meeting Monday night.

The approved budget represents an increase of about 10.1% from the $2.84 million in spending approved last year.

But the amount to be raised through property taxes to fund municipal spending will likely go down about 10%, Town Manager Richard LaBelle told the Morning Sentinel.

Municipal and state revenues are projected to total $2.37 million, and voters approved an article to authorize the use of surplus funds not to exceed $550,000 to offset property taxes. If that full surplus amount is used, that leaves around $200,000 to be raised through property taxes, LaBelle said.

Even so, it is too soon to know how the approved budget will affect the current local tax rate set at $12.15 per $1,000 of valuation, given that the Somerset County and School Administrative District 54 budgets have yet to be decided.

Both the county and school budgets are expected to increase, LaBelle said.

About 40 of the town’s approximately 2,500 registered voters approved 39 warrant articles without amendments at Monday’s meeting in the Mill Stream Elementary School gymnasium. Only a few articles, for which the town budget committee and Select Board made slightly different recommendations, drew any discussion.

Major areas of spending include: $753,675 for public works, $451,700 for administration, and $318,426 for the Fire Department. Voters also approved raising and appropriating $1.06 million for capital reserve accounts, largely to pay for planned spending on roads and public works and fire equipment.

Although it accounts for only a minor portion of spending, the parks budget nearly tripled to $30,000, and the recreation budget grew by about $10,000 to $32,325. The increases will help to cover new programming, facility improvements, and equipment rentals.

Increasing costs across town departments are due to several factors, though personnel-related expenses are responsible for many of the increases, according to budget documents.

Revenues from host community fees paid by the Waste Management landfill in Norridgewock continue to help the town’s finances, LaBelle said. The fees, set by a contract, are projected in the upcoming fiscal year to total $900,000.

Residents approved one local ordinance, an update to the town’s Sewer Use Ordinance that will eventually change all seats on the Sewer Commission to staggered three-year terms; currently commissioners serve terms of one, two or three years.

Voters also filled open seats on town boards and committees during municipal elections held Monday, although the Select Board will make appointments to fill those that remain vacant.

In an uncontested Select Board election, incumbents Kelsea J. Bickford, Ronnie L. Blodgett, Matthew J. Everett and Lindsey M.E. Lynch were reelected for another one-year term. Newcomer Cheyenne M. Goodrich also won a spot on the board, as Select Board member Dylan Wentworth did not run for another term.

There were no declared candidates for two open spots on the SAD 54 board of directors. As a write-in, Valerie Coulombe won one seat, with a three-year term. The other director seat, with a two-year term, will be filled by appointment, as several write-in candidates received just one vote.

For the Sewer Commission, write-in candidate Tasha Raymond won both an open two-year seat and an open one-year seat. Raymond will choose which position to take, and the other open seat will be appointed, LaBelle said. The election for another commissioner seat with a two-year term resulted in a tie between two write-ins, so that seat will also be subject to appointment.

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