A $27 million Regional School Unit 1 budget that’s 6.7 percent higher than the current one appears to have been endorsed by voters, even in municipalities set to absorb hefty tax increases.

Unofficial figures show the budget passing by a 453-290 vote.

Voters also decided Tuesday they want to maintain a “second say” on the budget process, opting to retain annual municipal budget validation referendums.

A cost-sharing plan approved by the five municipalities and the budget means taxes owable to schools will go up 16.5 percent in Woolwich and 24.1 percent in West Bath.

Even so, Woolwich residents went along with the plan, unofficially, by an 84-45 vote.

West Bath, taking a hit from the new cost-sharing formula, voted down the spending plan 79-44.

Bath, looking at 6.3 percent cost increase, favored the budget on a 180-139 vote.

Phippsburg will get a break with a 10.6 percent decrease, and its voters turned out accordingly, passing the budget by a 101-23 margin. Arrowsic, as always, was supportive of the schools budget. It passed 44-4 in that town, which will enjoy a 2.6 percent tax reduction.

Voting on Question 2, to keep the referendum vote, was close. It went down in Arrowsic, 29-18, but passed 64- 59 in Phippsburg, 183-133 in Bath, 84-34 in Woolwich and 83-39 in West Bath. The unofficial total: 432-294.

The budget supports a new health educator position for Bath Middle School and Woolwich Central School, educational techs to assist the increased number of specialneeds students, and a teacher for a new grade 5 classroom to meet enrollment needs.

The RSU 1 pre-kindergarten program expands. The budget also includes funding for a school resource officer.

lgrard@timesrecord.com

RSU 1 BUDGET VOTING

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