Michael and Beth Walters place their ballots in the voting machine Tuesday at the Auburn Senior Community Center. Warden Audrey Murphy said Tuesday’s voter turnout was very slow. “We are taking it easy because November will be crazy,” Murphy said of the presidential election. “We will be straight out on Nov. 5 so I will enjoy this.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

AUBURN — Voters on Tuesday approved the $62.12 million school budget for 2024-25. The vote was 1,087 to 554.

The budget is 5.2% higher than the current fiscal year’s $59.07 million.

The budget brings the property tax rate for education up to $9.19 per $1,000 of assessed value — for a $300,000 home that is a tax bill of $2,757 for the school budget alone.

The total state subsidy is expected to be $38.32 million.

There were several factors driving up the budget, with the largest being rising staff salaries and benefits. There is also an expected increase in private school spending next school year.