The newly consolidated Windham-Raymond School Department has its first budget after residents Tuesday approved a $38.5 million spending plan by a vote that split along town lines.

Though the budget passed 635-381, it was better received in Windham, where it passed 486-230, than in Raymond, where residents voted 151-149 against the budget. Only the overall total determines the outcome of a budget validation in a consolidated district. The new fiscal year begins July 1, the same day the new school district officially takes over.

The projected tax impact of the budget is an increase of 22 cents per $1,000 of property value in Windham and 28 cents per $1,000 of property value in Raymond. Part of the difference is that Windham is using $610,000 left over from this year’s budget to offset taxes, while Raymond, where the school department has created especially tight budgets the last few years, has only about $25,000 to carry forward.

Also on Tuesday, voters approved by a count of 693-318 a $522,270 interest free loan from the Revolving Renovation Fund, of which $297,480 is forgiven by the state. The funds will be used for roof work at Windham Middle School and fire alarm and communications systems at Windham High School, Middle School and Field Allen School.

In Raymond, some voters were upset the budget did not appear to bring the savings promised by consolidation.

“That was the whole point of consolidation, to save us money,” said resident Bonnie Pierpont, adding that she worried the smaller Raymond would be dominated by Windham.

Although Raymond resident Kathy Brown approved of the budget, she felt the same way about consolidation, saying it was too early to tell whether it would be a good deal for Raymond.

“My concern is that we are a smaller town lumped with a bigger town and if we’ll get the same voice,” said Brown.

It is a perception that the new Windham-Raymond School Board is going to have to deal with, members said Wednesday.

“I’m not sure we’re one yet,” said Chairman Toby Pennels. The board, he said, will have to work cautiously around the issue. “I know I’m cognizant of it, and I think my peers on the board are cognizant of it as well.”

The residents of Raymond voted in November to consolidate, said board member Alizah Shriver of Raymond. The board will carry out that plan as best it can, she said, and the perception of separate agendas for separate towns will eventually fade.

“I am not sure that anything other than time and perseverance will change that,” Shriver said.

Though the goal of the board was to present a budget without a tax increase, falling state aid and the initial costs of consolidation made that difficult, said Pennels. State law also kept the board from eliminating redundant contracts in order to save money, he said.

Some cuts the board did make, especially from the music program, were fought hard by residents and thus reinstated. The budget did end up cutting 14 positions, showing that the board was serious about keeping taxes low.

“Not everything went back in,” Pennels said.

The final budget was $438,399 below this year’s spending from the two towns combined, which the board members said showed their willingness to cut where necessary, as well as the savings of a consolidated district.

Still, Pennels said, he can understand people’s negative reaction to any tax increase. That was the reason, not concerns over consolidation, that Raymond residents voted against the budget, he said. The board will continue to justify every dollar spent on education, he said.

“I hear Raymond loud and clear,” said Pennels, who urged residents to be patient with the new school district. As the new board finds its way, new ways to save money and deliver a quality education will emerge, and Windham and Raymond will be better for it, Pennels said.

“I think consolidation will pay both communities some dividends,” he said.