Standish residents approved the an $8.45 million budget in a 30-minute town meeting Saturday, June 18, according to Town Manager Gordy Billington.

The budget represents a $234,752 increase, or 2.8 percent, from this fiscal year. The property tax rate will increase by 6 cents due to municipal and county spending, meaning an additional $12 in property taxes for the owner of a $200,000 home.

The budget for School Administrative District 6 will not increase property taxes in Standish, according to the town’s finance director, Scott Gesualdi. 

The budget approval process was followed by a special Town Council meeting, Billington said, where Steven Nesbitt was elected as council chairman and Kimberly Pomerleau as vice chairwoman.