HAMPDEN – The Town Council quickly dispensed with the budget Monday, unanimously approving the $6.3 million plan they had been discussing for weeks.

The 2002 budget calls for a 45-cent tax increase, bringing the mill rate to $21.25 per $1,000 valuation.

The new plan includes the $4.3 million school budget that residents in SAD 22 will consider in tonight’s referendum.

Personnel expenditures were largely responsible for the municipal budget increase, with salaries, benefits and insurance accounting for more than 60 percent of the bottom line, according to Town Manager Susan Lessard.

New development also contributed to the larger budget, with debt service totaling $275,000 for the new business park and $99,000 for the fire station addition to the municipal building.

The costs of water and hydrant rental, health insurance premiums, electricity and fuel rates, and disposal for transfer station items also have gone up, Lessard said.

“It’s not skimpy,” Mayor Bill Romano said about the new budget.

“But we did address some serious items.”