Scarborough voters approved a $48.5 million school budget for 2018-19 by a narrow margin on Tuesday, increasing spending $1.4 million or 3 percent.
The vote was 2,966 to 2,868, or 51 percent to 49 percent, avoiding multiple budget reductions and follow-up votes that often plague the town.
Recommended by the School Board and endorsed by the Town Council, the amount to be raised in taxes for town schools will increase $2.5 million or 5.9 percent, from $42.4 million to $44.7 million.
The overall operating budget for municipal, school and county services, including adult education and school food services, will increase $3.3 million, or 5.2 percent, from $63.6 million to $66.9 million, according to budget documents.
Based on cautious property value projections, the tax rate will increase 24 cents, or 1.4 percent, from $16.49 to $16.73 per $1,000 of assessed property value. At that rate, the annual tax bill on a $300,000 home will increase $72, from $4,947 to $5,019.
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