WATERFORD — Voters approved a $1.2 million budget at town meeting Saturday, estimated to result in a 50-cent mill-rate increase.

Despite sleet, rain and icy roads, about 60 voters arrived at the municipal building on Valley Road at 9 a.m., ready to act on the 68-article warrant. Sawin Millett, former state representative and current finance commissioner for Gov. Paul LePage, returned as moderator this year.

Voters approved the $1,235,010 budget, a 5.03 percent increase over last year’s. About $1.18 million was raised in taxes; the remainder came from the town’s savings and a previous fiscal year surplus.

Selectmen said after the meeting that the proposed budget represents a total dollar increase of slightly less than $68,000. Combined with the Oxford County increase of 5.53 percent and the Oxford Hills School District increase of 2.99 percent, selectmen say they expect the mill rate will rise from $13.25 to $13.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a 3.74 percent increase over last year’s rate.

Voters approved $23,658 for repayment of the plow truck to the forestry account; $8,250 for completion of the computerization of the tax cards and $8,150 to pay for repairs completed earlier this year on the westerly arch at Elm Vale Cemetery. These items drove up the budget up this year, selectmen said.

Voters also approved a $330,612 request for the care of roads and bridges. They split the appropriation to specify whether the money was coming from the roads or bridges account lines. Selectman Randy Lessard said the changes were made to simplify the accounting process.

“It’s not always clear when the winter season starts and ends,” he said, referring to the need to account for maintenance costs in either the winter or the bridge line item.

Voters also approved appropriating $174,125 for the use and maintenance of the transfer station and raised $113,181 for Waterford’s share of the operation. Albany and Stoneham will raise $60,944 as their share of the cost.

Voters OK’d $4,000 for the legal expense budget, saying there might be two court cases this year, including action on a subdivision controversy and one against a homeowner who built a house in a shoreline area. Selectmen said both cases likely would require more money by the time the year ends.

In other action, voters approved $150,000 to continue tarring, surfacing and/or resurfacing Waterford roads, and $82,315 for town officials’ salaries.

ldixon@sunjournal.com