LEE – Residents this week approved a municipal budget reflecting a 13.6 percent drop in overall municipal spending.

About 26 people who gathered at the junior high school gym Monday approved a municipal budget of $205,200 during the 54-minute town meeting.

Although the town’s overall spending dropped by $32,200, the amount to be raised from local taxes went up because the town is using less money from its surplus to fund various accounts. This year, the town will use $46,000 from surplus, down from last year’s $120,500.

The town’s surplus is about $200,000. Officials don’t want to use any more money from the surplus in case the state, facing its own shortfall, reduces revenues to the town.

The $159,200 to be raised from local taxes represents an increase of $42.300, or 36 percent compared with last year.

Officials estimate the town’s tax rate of $18.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value could increase by 50 cents. The estimated increase in the tax rate would translate into an additional $30 in the tax bill of a resident with a home valued at $60,000.

The first half of a resident’s tax bill is due Aug. 1 and the second half is due Dec. 31. After those dates, interest of 6 percent per annum will be charged.

Residents approved a town road specification ordinance, which includes the same guidelines officials have used in accepting roads as public roads.

Voters also authorized selectmen to hire a part-time elderly housing director, who will work to develop a 10-unit elderly housing project. A total of 293 ballots were cast during the municipal elections. The town has 708 registered voters.

Susan M. Daigle was re-elected to a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen in a three-way race. Daigle received 130 votes, Everett W. McLeod Sr., 43, and Terry R. Raymond, 117.

Scott A. Maxwell, Sonia M. Maxwell and Cathy B. Tallman, who ran unopposed, were elected to three-year terms on the SAD 30 school board. Diane Delano was re-elected to three-year terms as town clerk and town treasurer, running unopposed.