Lyme -- The Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday will include a vote on the proposed $10.9 million budget for 2021-22 as well as several proposals that could shape the future of the town.

The meeting will be held outside Town Hall at 5 p.m..

Officials anticipate the proposed budget will not increase the current 19.95-mill tax rate.

The spending plan, which includes general government, education, debt service and capital spending, is up $281,410 over the current budget — an increase of 2.6%. Helping to mitigate the overall spending increase is the town's payment to the Lyme-Old Lyme regional school district, which is slated to decrease $446,686 from the current budget.

The $34.8 million Region 18 education budget was approved at referendum earlier this month. Unspent cash being returned to the towns from the district fund balance led to the projected decrease in Lyme and Old Lyme's share of education costs in the coming fiscal year.

The proposed town budget relies on Lyme's $2.91 million general fund balance — also known as a rainy day fund — to absorb the increase.

In a contentious move, the Board of Finance last month reduced the allocation for the open space reserve fund in the proposed budget from $479,000 to $75,000, while lowering the target for that fund from $1 million to $500,000.

One resolution up for a vote at the town meeting would restore the open space reserve fund goal to $1 million. Open space advocates have clamored for restoration of the target, which was endorsed by the Board of Selectmen for the past several years.

A longstanding commitment to open space among Lyme residents is evident in 12,000-plus acres of preserved space — a number that represents more than half of the town's land area.

Another issue up for vote would turn the town treasurer position from elected to appointed through an ordinance change. First Selectman Steve Mattson said the town clerk, tax assessor and tax collector positions have all become appointed positions over the past several years.

Mattson cited a small, aging population as the reason for the change.

"This provides us the opportunity to hire someone capable from outside the town if that's necessary," he said. "Elected positions would have to be filled by residents who are registered voters in the town. And there just are not enough people who are willing to either work for or volunteer for the town."

The proposed budget includes additional hours for the treasurer as part of a continuing effort to professionalize Town Hall operations, according to Mattson. The first selectman said he handles a number of financial management functions that will fall to the treasurer in the new fiscal year.

The allocation to the treasurer's department in the proposed budget rises from $15,062 currently to $79,018 to accommodate the extra hours.

Another change to be voted on would update a town ordinance to reflect an online mooring permit application process. The change makes it easier to process mooring applications and allows the harbormaster to more accurately maintain information about where the moorings are placed, according to Mattson.

He said Harbormaster Tom Reynolds will accommodate those who are unable to submit their applications online.

The meeting will also include a vote to authorize the town to take ownership of the North Lyme Cemetery on Route 156, and its assets, now that the association in charge of that particular cemetery is disbanding.

Mattson said the assets are worth about $65,000, but that figure won't be finalized until the association completes the legal process of disbanding.

"That will enable us to maintain the cemetery for many, many years without having to go to the taxpayers for additional funds," Mattson said.

The cemetery will fall under the Lyme Cemetery Commission, which oversees more than a dozen cemeteries. Maintenance on the properties is less than $5,000 per year, Mattson said. The bulk of the maintenance involves mowing.

e.regan@theday.com