ORWELL — There were no big surprises at Orwell’s town meeting on Tuesday, though there were surely a few people casually wondering where Mike Audet was — last year he wrapped more than four decades as moderator for Orwell Town Meeting, and Glen Cousineau wielded the gavel this year.

Cousineau was re-elected as moderator for the coming year. Other incumbent town officials also won re-election, including Mike Christian and Les Wood, who earned seats on the selectboard for three years and two years, respectively. Bryan S. Young is back as town treasurer.

The new face (though not terribly new to those paying attention to town business) was Anna Golan, the assistant town clerk was elected to a one-year term as town clerk.

The two big money items on the town meeting warning passed. The town budget of $1,877,297 got a thumbs up, as did the sewer budget of $110,691.

Town spending is a decrease of $223,612 from what was approved last year; but $1,162,961 will be raised in taxes, up $166,488 from the current year. The sewer spending, which will be raised by user and dumping fees, was down $1,400 from last year.

Voters on Tuesday also OK’d appropriating $27,700 for several town projects, including:

• $16,500 for the operating expenses of the Ethan M. and Eliza T. Wright Memorial Library building.
• $4,000 for the Orwell Historical Society.
• $1,750 for the Orwell Youth Recreation Program.

Orwell voters also cast ballots on the Slate Valley Union School District budget, which was defeated by residents of the six towns in the district.