Standish voters approved a 5.9 percent budget increase at the June 13 annual town meeting.

At 9 a.m. in the Town Council chambers, 76 Standish voters approved 28 warrant articles that collectively constitute the budget adopted by the council, which increases spending $456,762 to $8,213,001.

As a result of the votes, the municipal portion of the tax rate will increase 7 cents, according to Town Manager Gordon Billington. The 5.9 percent increase in gross municipal expenditures will be offset by a $353,504 increase in non-property tax revenues, including increased excise tax revenues, medical reimbursements, and the use of surplus.

The approved budget delivers a 5 percent pay raise to the town’s salaried employees. According to Billington, the increase will return the salaried municipal employees to their long-term pay schedule, which was interrupted in fiscal year 2010, when salaries were slashed 5 percent.

The budget also delivers a 1.7 percent wage increase to the town’s hourly wage earners, in line with the federal government’s cost-of-living adjustment measure. The budget increases spending on the town’s cable television channel by 23.9 percent, General Assistance by 12.4 percent, and debt service by 16 percent, while decreasing spending on law enforcement by 4.7 percent and solid waste by 1.7 percent.

-Ezra Silk