PARIS — Voters in the eight towns of School Administrative District 17 passed a $38.2 million budget Tuesday.

A total of 1,551 voters from Paris, Norway, Oxford, Harrison, Waterford, West Paris, Hebron and Otisfield went to the polls. The result was a vote of 1,005 to 546.

“Based on early projections, it looks like the budget passed by a 65 percent margin,” Superintendent Rick Colpitts said late Tuesday night. “We’re very pleased by that support.”

Colpitts said he was surprised by the votes in Paris and Otisfield but understands the close votes show the school district needs to be more proactive in those towns where local assessments are some of the highest in the district this year.

Paris passed the spending package, 182-163. Otisfield did also, 33-26.

Oxford’s tally of 245-113 approved the budget. Norway passed it, 276-110.

Harrison’s tally was 184-118; Waterford’s, 27-0. Hebron voters cast 21-7. West Paris voted 37-9 for the budget.

A little more than 50 voters approved the budget June 4. Tuesday was a yes or no vote on that action.

The proposed spending plan is $815,633 more than this year’s budget. Colpitts said although the budget is a 2.18 percent increase over last year’s budget, it will be a 4.75 percent increase for local taxpayers because the state has determined the value of the district has increased by 14 percent while the value of the state has decreased by 5 percent. It will mean an increase of $892,022 in the local share.

The increases in local assessments will range from 7.42 percent for Oxford and 7 percent for Otisfield, to 2.94 percent for Waterford and negative 0.38 percent for Harrison, which pays a per-pupil rate.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net