Gorham voters Tuesday approved a $29.7 million school budget, 1,351-598.

The 2008-2009 budget is 3.1 percent higher than this year’s spending plan, but would have no impact on the property tax rate. It includes the removal of more than a dozen positions in the district, including the business manager, the curriculum coordinator and the transportation director.

Gorham resident Matt Reed said he voted against the school budget.

“It’s still too much,” he said, acknowledging that the budget wouldn’t increase the tax rate.

Lee Workman said she voted for the budget because with oil and health care costs taken into account, “it seemed to me a really conservative amount.”

Recently retired teacher Ellen Durgin said she voted for the budget. “I know how many positions they cut,” she said.

Gorham voters also passed the state referendum question, authorizing $29.7 million for transportation and waterway infrastructure and landfills.

Gorham had no municipal elections, but fell in line with voting trends across the state in the major primary races. Gorham voted Democrats Tom Allen and Chellie Pingree and Republican Charlie Summers as the nominees for the contested Senate and 1st District congressional races this fall.

Sen. Phil Bartlett was unopposed as the Democratic nominee for District 6. He’ll be facing Republican Peter Davis this fall. Davis was also unopposed for the nomination.

Jane Knapp was unopposed as the Republican nominee for House District 129. Christopher Barstow won 417 votes for the Democratic nomination for the district, but he dropped out of the race on Monday, a day before the primary.

Unopposed Democrat Linda Sanborn has been nominated to face Norman Justice, also unopposed, for House District 130.

BY THE NUMBERS

Gorham

School Budget Validation Referendum

Yes 1,351

No 598

Democratic Primary

U.S. Senator

Tom Allen 805

Tom Ledue 110

Representative to Congress, District 1

Chellie Pingree 373

Adam Cote 281

Michael Brennan 127

Ethan Strimling 114

Mark Lawrence 27

Stephen Meister 7

State Senator, District 6

Phillip Bartlett 841

Representative to Legislature, District 129

Christopher Barstow 417 (withdrawn from race)

Representative to Legislature, District 130

Linda Sanborn 288

Register of Probate

John O’Brien 753

County Commissioner

Richard Feeney 769

Republican Primary

U.S. Senator

Susan Collins 717

Representative to Congress, District 1

Charlie Summers 426

Dean Scontras 332

State Senator, District 6

Peter Davis 653

Representative to Legislature, District 129

Jane Knapp 449

Representative to Legislature, District 130

Norman Justice 225

Register of Probate

Teri McRae 641

County Commissioner

Nancy Larsen 643