Salem — After a public hearing at the school Wednesday, the Board of Finance voted Thursday to approve a $15.01 million budget to send to the 200th town meeting on May 2.

Residents then will vote to approve or reject the budget, a 0.37 percent decrease from the current year's spending plan, at a referendum on May 9.

George Householder, finance board chairman, presented the proposed general government and capital budgets for the 2018-19 year Wednesday.

He noted the work of all the boards and commissions in town for working together to keep tax increases to a minimum; Salem's mill rate has increased by 3.55 percent in the last five years, one of the lowest in the county. He highlighted former Chairman T.J. Butcher's work in particular during his four years as chair, especially in the face of steep cuts last year.

While the general government budget of $3,780,417 approved Thursday is a 2.36 percent increase over the 2017-18 budget, many of the boards and commissions presented budgets with no change or with decreases. Much of the increase came from salary increases, including additional raises for town hall employees with new certifications.

Major projects included in the capital expenditures — which total $895,974 — included a $120,000 payment on a new tanker for the Salem Volunteer Fire Company, a new plow truck for the Public Works Department, and more than $400,000 to fund road repairs throughout town.

Sean Reith, chairman of the Board of Education, presented the proposed school budget of $10,338,225, a 1.99 percent decrease from the current year. Most of the savings this year came from tuition savings, including a small freshman class going to East Lyme High School and several special education outplacements being brought back into Salem School.

The school board initially pitched a $10.44 million budget to the Board of Finance, which passed in March by a 4-2 vote. At the hearing, Reith said the school board voted at its April 2 meeting to reduce its budget to the $10.33 million presented Wednesday, taking more than $100,000 from the technology budget after discussions with the finance board.

The public hearing closed shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, as no residents stepped forward to comment on the proposed budget. The finance board unanimously approved both the capital budget and general government budgets Thursday, with little discussion other than updated insurance quotes that would save the town about $13,000 from Wednesday's proposal.

The finance board approved the $10.33 million school budget by a vote of 5-1, with the expectation that the school board will also have updated decreased insurance costs ahead of the town meeting.

a.hutchinson@theday.com