SANFORD — It is official. Sanford voters will return to the polls Aug. 23 for a do-over vote on the $38.1 million school budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the City Council agreed to send the budget to voters, and absentee ballots are available now.

The budget figure is the same as the one voters rejected June 14. Of the $38.1 million total, $14.4 million comes from Sanford and Springvale taxpayers.

“I encourage everyone to go out and vote in favor of the school budget,” said Councilor Fred Smith. “It is fair and it does well for our kids.”

“I’ll be supporting the school budget – I think it is the right thing to do,” said Councilor John Tuttle.

Voters rejected both the school and city budgets on June 14, but the city’s charter says unless 25 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots at the last gubernatorial election vote, the budget is deemed to have passed. Since there weren’t enough votes cast, the municipal budget was approved.

However, according to information from the city attorney relayed by City Manager Steve Buck, state law prevails over the city charter when it comes to school budgets.

State law requires only a majority to vote a school budget up or down.

Sanford voters rejected the municipal budget 1,054- 785, and the school budget 968-862.

A campaign to vote “no” on the budgets was led by City Councilor Victor DiGregorio, who posted signs urging a negative vote. At a June 21 City Council meeting, he told the council he felt strongly that the city should have no tax increase.

He told a meeting of the city’s budget committee June 30 that he supports the school budget – and reflected his support in his vote Tuesday night.

Overall, the combined school and municipal budgets, at $63 million, represents a 2.44 percent tax increase – one that city leaders say won’t be felt by those who have applied for the homestead exemption and whose properties are valued at $170,000 or less.

Polls will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at all three of the city’s polling stations – Nasson Community Center on Main Street in Springvale, St. Ignatius Parish Hall on Riverside Avenue and at Curtis Lake Church on Westview Drive in south Sanford.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.