Voters on Tuesday approved a new $32.9 million budget for the Belfast-based school district, RSU 71, that’s up 8 percent from the previous spending plan.
They also approved a proposal to spend up to $1.5 million from the district’s capital improvement funds to buy two Belfast properties and use them for a new bus garage.
Voters across the district — which also includes Morrill, Belmont, Searsmont and Swanville — passed the budget with a 534-365 vote, according to unofficial results. They did so despite some members of the Belfast City Council opposing the proposal, arguing it would increase taxes too much.
The district also approved continuing to require a referendum vote to pass the school budget for the next three years.
