LEWISTON – Sewage treatment plant directors have passed a budget for the coming year that keeps spending nearly even with this year.

The Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority’s annual budget meeting and public hearing did not attract any members of the public on Friday.

The 2004 spending plan is $368 higher than the 2003 budget, which is roughly $4.1 million. Projected spending for the year is less than the budgeted amount by about $32,000. LAWPCA’s budget in 2002 was just under $4 million.

Superintendent Clayton “Mac” Richardson said the increase of only $368 keeps spending nearly even with 2003. “It’s basically a flat budget,” he said.

In other business, the board re-elected the same officers to serve in the same capacities in 2004. They are Chris Branch, chairman; Mac Richardson, clerk; and William Harnden, treasurer.

Branch is the public services director for Lewiston and Harnden is the financial officer for Auburn’s water and sewer districts.

In another matter, Richardson told the board that septic receiving for November was the highest volume for any November on record. September and October also set records.

The increases were attributed to Cumberland County towns sending septic tank waste to LAWPCA after a facility in Portland changed rules for towns disposing of waste at the end of the summer.

Richardson said the highest volumes of waste in November came from Gray and Raymond. Other Cumberland County communities that sent high volumes of waste to LAWPCA were New Gloucester and Casco.