AUBURN — After two years of cutting budgets, the Auburn School Committee unanimously passed a $35.9 million spending plan Wednesday night.

If approved by voters, the school budget will raise property taxes on a $160,000 home by $85. That does not count the city side of spending.

The budget now will be given to the Auburn City Council. Voters will get the final say in a referendum May 10.

The proposed budget is 5 percent higher than the current spending plan. Earlier this month, a majority of city councilors said they would not support a 5 percent increase. The council is the body that decides the amount sent to voters for approval.

But during a public hearing April 4, school supporters filled the council chambers to back the higher budget. School Committee members Wednesday fired back at the council, saying they stand behind the budget.

Superintendent Tom Morrill described the budget as one that would improve education for all students. It has new programs to boost literacy in the early grades; a so-called expeditionary program — hands-on learning — at the middle school; and different kinds of learning at the high school to help more students graduate in four years.

The budget would also fund a summer school program, allowing more to graduate on time. It would create 16½ new positions, including four reading teachers, a school nurse and a Somali school liaison.

City Councilor David Young, the mayor’s representative on the School Committee, expressed concern about sending a budget with a 5 percent increase to the City Council when efforts have been made to harness spending.

“I don’t think this will pass the council,” Young said.

In recent years, referendum turnout has been dismal. “The referendum doesn’t tell you if people wanted something higher or lower,” Young said.

School Committee Chairman David Das said voters could be asked, if they voted no, whether it was it because they wanted higher or lower spending. Referendum turnout has been disappointing, “but perhaps this year we can have a genuine, real referendum where people turn out and vote,” Das said.

In an angry tone, committee member Lane Feldman said the city has not held the line on spending.

“My tax bill increased, and nothing was recycled,” Feldman said. “I had to figure what day of the month would be recycle (day), so I stopped.”

There was so little sand and salt on the roads this winter, “I had to go out and purchase a four-wheel-drive vehicle so I could actually negotiate the roads in Auburn to get my child to school every day,” he said.

If taxes go up, Feldman said, he wants to see something for that increase. “I’m going to see it in the schools.”

Committee member Susan Gaylord said attempts have been made to keep school spending from increasing.

“Quite frankly, it has not worked for the children,” she said. “Our main purpose for being here is to support the education of our children, to make sure they’re prepared for the future.”

Auburn students have fallen behind in literacy, and to have 67 percent of high school students graduate in four years is “unacceptable,” Gaylord said. “We have let our children down.”

Pointing to the Monday night turnout, Tom Kendall said the community “is fully in favor” of the budget and the council should support it.

Young again cautioned that the budget was going to the council. “I don’t think it is going to go very far,” he said. “Be prepared for a bumpy ride.”

[email protected]