NORWAY — Despite some unhappiness with the increase, Norway residents easily passed the $7.1 million municipal budget at the annual town meeting Monday.

Approximately 50 residents gathered at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School for the two-hour meeting.

The municipal budget is increasing by nearly 12%, but some voters said the total town budget, including the schools portion and Oxford County assessments, was increasing by 30%.

“I think we’ve spent a heck of a lot of money,” said resident Scott Stone. “I can tell you that my business could not sustain this kind of an increase. It’s got to stop somewhere, or people are going to start losing their houses.

“Listening to everybody here, everybody has great stories to tell, each article had a great reason to do what you are suggesting,” he added. “Arguing about it sounds kind of petty. So, it’s hard for me to stand here, pound my fist and say that needs to stop. But you can’t do 30% every year.

“I encourage you guys next year to keep this in mind when you put this together because this is massive and frankly unsustainable,” Stone concluded.

Another resident said the board needs to hire a full-time town manager and not rely on Police Chief Jeffrey Campbell to also serve as interim town manager. She added that nothing is being done to control spending.

Five accounts drove the budget increase.

The Municipal Complex budget increased by 26.99% due to inflation related to repairing the roof and siding. Planning and Enforcement increased by $40,000, or 38.22%, due to a new hire.

The largest increase by dollar amount is with police, fire, and highways and public works. The proposed police budget at $1.46 million is up nearly a quarter-million dollars, or 19.99%, due to wages, benefits and vehicle replacements. A nearly $100,000 increase for new hires, wages and repairs has the Fire Department budget up by 26.75%. A $221,000 increase has Highways and Public Works budget rising by 19.6%

Despite some grumbling, all five passed with little opposition.

The Highways and Public Works budget was the only question on the 38-article warrant that needed a hand vote, and that passed by a 33-11 margin.

Ordinance changes to building codes, flood plain and shoreland zoning passed easily. Only the signage ordinance was rejected, but that was on the recommendation of town officials, who said it needed further legal review before it would be ready for a vote.