Waterford — After four consecutive days going line-by-line through the proposed 2018-19 budget, the 22-member Representative Town Meeting unanimously backed a $93 million budget Thursday night.

The budget increases spending by about $2.4 million spread across town departments and schools, largely driven by employee raises and higher retirement and health insurance costs.

On Wednesday, May 16, the Board of Finance will finalize the new tax rate after fully reviewing revenue from the state approved by the General Assembly this week.

Finance board member Bill Sheehan recently estimated the tax rate could rise by about 3 percent. He calculated the increase would bump taxes by about $107 for a home assessed at the town median of $132,485.

First Selectman Dan Steward said "all the departments have been very diligent in their efforts" to create budgets "representing the realistic needs of our community. We know this is a difficult period in our country and the finances of our residents."

The total proposed municipal budget, after about $40,000 in adjustments by the RTM this week, stands at $33.2 million. Municipal retirement and insurance costs rack up to about $590,000 in added spending compared to the current year.

After peppering Superintendent Tom Giard and other administrators with questions on personnel, class size and overall efficiency, the RTM approved a $48.3 million school budget Thursday night. Twenty members voted in favor, while Calley Merriman and April Cairns, who are school board employees, abstained.

RTM members called for more detailed school staffing breakdowns in future budgets, tougher negotiations with unions, more efficient transportation and greater emphasis on cutting expenses through attrition.

"Nobody on the RTM wants to cut teachers," said Mike Perkins, R-1st District. "But we do know in this economic climate, we're being squeezed."

Giard said the district has eliminated staffing through attrition and would continue to do so. He noted the bulk of the school budget's 2.15 percent increase over current spending stems from contractual raises and health insurance. He added the most recent contract with teachers shifted health insurance to high deductible plans and eliminated top tier salaries for a projected savings of $8 million over 20 years.

"We don't sit here and say we're at the mercy of what the numbers will bring us," said Giard, crediting his staff for successfully winning more than $147,000 in grants this school year.

He added that he welcomed new ideas from town leaders to create efficiencies.

"The message tonight is we are on the same team," he said after the meeting. "It's important that we are looking at the full picture in the town and the school district. Every community has a set of priorities and it's evident tonight that the RTM prioritizes education."

Earlier this week, the RTM also backed at least $300,000 in added police department spending, in part to hire two more officers to help cut down on overtime costs. The RTM approved about $492,000 in total police overtime for 2017-18; about $515,000 is proposed for 2018-19.

Police Chief Brett Mahoney said the department hasn't increased the number of officers on the payroll — currently 47 — since the early 2000s.

Mahoney and Steward said multiple officers are assigned to various task forces that combat the heroin epidemic and conduct cyber investigations, which are vital functions but result in fewer officers in the patrol ranks. This affects shift coverage and requires overtime to ensure officers can respond to emergencies in town, Mahoney said.

Steward and Mahoney noted the town would not see data showing an impact on overtime for about two years based on the time needed for background checks, police academy and field training before officers are placed on full-time duty.

b.kail@theday.com