AUBURN — Voters on Tuesday approved a school budget for the 2021-22 school year. The vote was 555 to 151.
The $48.3 million spending plan, unanimously approved by the School Committee and City Council, raises local taxes by 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The total budget increase over fiscal year 2020-21 is $2.39 million, including $1.76 million for the first annual payment on the new Edward Little High School.
The plan “reflects directives from the City Council as well as the School Committee to bring forth a fiscally responsible budget for taxpayers while still maintaining the necessary funding to educate Auburn students,” Committee Chairwoman Karen Mathieu said ahead of the vote.
She said the budget maintains smaller elementary school class sizes and fully funds programs that have historically been under budgeted, such as special education.
It does not negatively affect local taxpayers and does not remove programming or extracurricular activities or sports, Mathieu said.
The plan also supports “and was built upon” School Committee and district goals to increase graduation rates, increase math and literacy competencies and support professional development, she said.
“It is important to note that this was the first school budget that has been unanimously passed by the City Council in many, many years,” Mathieu said.
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