Raymond residents, satisfied with cuts made after the first budget failed, ratified the $8.93 million school budget at the polls Monday by a vote of 345-287.

The successful vote concludes the budget process, which was lengthened after the first spending proposal was approved at the annual town meeting but then shot down 517-435 at a subsequent ratification vote June 10.

School board members then cut $116,000 from the budget and sent it back to a special town meeting June 27, where it was approved, clearing the way for Monday’s ratification vote.

The cuts were made in a few areas, including in the operations and maintenance budget and the superintendent’s office budget. Also included in the savings was just over $40,000 saved by capping the tuition rate, an action that was taken at the regular town meeting and not included in the first budget proposal.

At the annual town meeting, residents voted to cap the tuition rate paid by the Raymond School Department for its students to attend local high schools at the rate charged by Windham High School, which was around $7,300 last year.

Some area schools charge more than Windham, however. Due to the decision, any amount incurred by a student above the Windham rate would have to covered by the student’s parents.

The budget/finance committee recommended an additional $54,000 in cuts, but the more than 100 residents at the June 27 town meeting went with the School Board’s budget.

While the total school budget is down this year, the amount raised from taxation rose by around $700,000 due to the loss of state subsidy and the absence of surplus to use to offset taxes.