NEW GLOUCESTER — The Budget Committee decided on amounts for more than a dozen items in the 2010-11 municipal budget Thursday night.

The final budget, including school and county assessments, is expected to total about $5.3 million.

The committee approved the following amounts: $55,607 for code enforcement; $18,000 for legal affairs; $288,000 for insurance: $87,000 for benefits; $15,000 for unanticipated expenses; $370,000 for debt service; and $5,000 for tax abatements.

Committee members also OK’d $202,305 for the Fire Department; $2,300 for emergency management; $29,432 for dispatch; $11,050 for animal control; and $5,000 for water treatment.

Other amounts approved were: $596,000 for the highway department; $200,235 for solid waste; $84,000 for the library; and $44,000 for General Assistance, which is an increase of 50 percent. Health and social services is budgeted for $4,250, of which $2,000 will benefit the Royal River Snowmobile Club.

Committee Chairman Ellie Espling said buildings and grounds, assessing and planning budgets would be reviewed at next week’s session.  Selectmen are looking to eliminate the full-time assessor position and contract for service one day a week.

Selectmen will review the budget March 2, and a public hearing will be held March 10. Townspeople will vote on the final spending plan at the annual town meeting May 3.