MADISON — Voters at the annual town meeting Monday night approved a $4.8 million budget that marks a roughly 6% increase in spending.

Those who gathered at the Main Street Middle School worked their way through the 42-article warrant in about 1 ½ hours, making only one minor change to the budget proposal for community programs.

The approved budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 totals $4.8 million, up 5.83% over the current year, budget documents show.

“Requests were reviewed line by line, priorities were reevaluated and difficult decisions were made,” said Town Manager Cheyenne Stevens. She took over as interim manager during the budget process and was recently hired in a permanent role. “The final budget before you reflects those efforts.”

Areas of spending include about $929,000 for public works, $923,000 for general government, $859,000 for public utilities, $193,000 for the fire department, $172,000 for the library and $158,000 for recreation.

A policing services contract with the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, which drew numerous questions from residents, came in this year at a proposed $573,000.

Capital reserve appropriations total $617,500, including $175,000 for the highway department, $125,000 for road surface and $200,000 for fire department vehicles. Voters also approved carrying forward about $375,000 in previously designated but unspent capital funds.

They also agreed to use $141,000 from tax increment financing and $500,000 from the undesignated fund balance to offset spending. The amount from the TIF used in the operating budget is slightly higher than usual, Stevens said previously.

Other undesignated fund balance money will be used to offset overspending in the past two years. Town officials estimate the fiscal year 2025 budget overspent $25,000 on waste disposal and $25,000 on General Assistance. They also estimate the fiscal year 2026 budget was $75,000 over on water district fees and waste disposal and $25,000 over on General Assistance.

Audits remain pending, so officials do not yet have exact numbers on the overdrafts, Stevens said.

Other forecast revenues offsetting taxation are determined outside of the town meeting budget process and are incorporated into the yearly tax commitment, she said. This year’s property tax rate has not yet been set but it is certain to increase.

The Maine School Administrative District 59 budget that went to voters for final review in the validation referendum Tuesday would come with a total of about $6 million going to taxpayers’ bills, marking a 10% increase to the portion of the district budget funded locally.

Meanwhile, Madison’s share of the Somerset County budget, which officials have already finalized, is set at $1.04 million. That is an increase of less than 0.4%.