The Westbrook school budget season officially came to a close tonight, as voters elected to pass the 2011-2012 budget by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

The clerk’s office confirmed tonight that the budget passed by a vote of 780-320. The $30.7 million budget will cut six teachers and seven support staff. Despite massive spending cuts, equally large losses in state and federal funding means the new budget will raise the property tax rate 37 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

School officials arrived at the proposed budget after months of at times emotional negotiations and discussions over what the district could afford to cut and what needed to stay.

Check back with keepmecurrent.com tomorrow, and check out the American Journal on Thursday for a full report, including reactions to the new budget.

Caitlin Lefebvre, 31, exits the booth after voting at the Westbrook Armory on Stroudwater Street. (Staff photo by Sean Murphy)

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