HOLDEN – There was little excitement at Wednesday’s annual town meeting as residents approved the municipal budget and several warrant articles without much discussion.

A group of about 40 voters met at the Holden Municipal Building and passed a town budget of $2.27 million, an increase of about $280,000 over the previous year.

The tax increase is not expected to increase property taxes significantly, according to town officials, because an expanded tax base offsets that budget increase. Among the biggest item increases came from the town’s Public Works Department, which is requesting $519,625, up from $441,008 the previous year.

Residents had the choice to approve budget items recommended by the Town Council or the town’s budget committee and chose the council’s figures. In most cases, the budget recommendations were the same, but the council did suggest appropriating $50,000 more for road improvements.

The dozen or so warrant articles were largely routine, but residents did approve a request for the town to appropriate $100,000 for technical assistance for the Interstate 395-Route 9 connector project.

At Tuesday’s primary election, incumbent Robert Harvey and Ralph McLeod each received 272 votes and were elected to the Town Council. Don Varnum, with 183 votes, defeated incumbent Dion Seymour, with 113, for a three-year seat on the school committee; and Kevin Mills, who ran unopposed, was selected for a one-year term on the school committee.