BETHLEHEM OKS $13.5M BUDGET.(Local)

The town has completed a $13.45 million budget, which calls for 6 percent spending increase.

The 1988 budget of $13,455,985, approved by the Town Board Wednesday, carries a general property tax rate of $7.04 per $1,000 in assessed value - a cut of 10 cents per $1,000. The highway, water and sewer tax rates will show increases of up to 2 percent.

The 1987 budget of $12,589,475 expires Dec. 31.

Town officials said additional revenues generated by the town's expanding tax base and an increase in anticipated mortgage taxes were enough to offset most of the spending increase.

Included in the budget is:

*A water district tax-rate …