SACO — Saco residents passed a $39.3 million fiscal year 2019 school budget in a 2,340 to 1,360 vote.

A newly formed local educational foundation, Saco STEAM, advocated for the budget. Saco STEAM members say the budget addresses concerns in the local education system by providing interventionists in math and literacy and a new STEM teacher at Saco Middle School; it also addresses areas of the strategic plan.

Saco residents can expect to see a mil rate increase of 53 cents to $19.91. The 53 cent mil rate increase equates to a $121 annual property tax increase on a $228,000 home, which is the median  price of homes in Saco.

Although the school budget alone would have increased the mil rate by $1.16, it is being partially offset by the municipal budget, which is estimated to decrease the mil rate by 57 cents, and by the county tax, which is estimated to decrease the mil rate by 5 cents.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.