Groton - The Groton Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to set the tax rate for town residents at 18.42 mills, an increase of 2.6 percent.

The town's $117.8 million budget cuts spending over the current fiscal year, but requires a tax increase because revenues to the town, both through the value of taxable local property and contributions from the state and federal government, decreased.

The Council also voted to approve an additional tax rate of 0.29 mills for residents within the town sewer district and a tax of 0.279 mills for residents of Mumford Cove.

- Matt Collette