Brunswick residents overwhelmingly backed a $54.6 million schools spending plan at the polls Tuesday, according to unofficial municipal election results.
The school budget, which marked a $1.6 million increase from the current budget, received over 1,800 votes in favor on Election Day, nearly a month after the Town Council adopted the budget. Just over 700 residents voted against the budget.
The approval brings an end to Brunswick’s budget season, which many officials described as challenging and difficult.
The school budget is part of a $97.5 million town-wide budget that was adopted in May for the 2025 fiscal year, which starts on July 1. School funds account for over half of the new property tax rate increase of 2.4%, a rate which many town councilors praised ahead of budget adoption.
Residents from Brunswick and other nearby towns also had the chance to vote on approving financing for a bridge project at Region 10 Technical High School. Nearly 2,300 residents backed the funding plan, with just over 244 Midcoast residents voting against the measure.
Where Brunswick residents stand on statewide elections
Town election results show that Democratic candidates averaged over 1,000 voters per candidate for state seats, while Republican candidates averaged over 600 voters for the same races. One Green Independent Party candidate for U.S. House District 1, declared write-in and Brunswick resident Nicholas Vigue, was backed by nearly 40 voters.
Many primary runners went unchallenged for spots aside from the District 1 U.S. representative race. Two Republicans, Andrew Piantidosi of Cape Elizabeth and Ronald C. Russel of Kennebunkport, went head to head on Tuesday for a spot to challenge Democratic incumbent Chellie Pingree.
While Brunswick Republicans backed Piantidosi in a narrow vote of 291-275, the candidate lost to Russel, who got 56.8% of the vote in the region. Russel will now face off with Pingree this November.
More voters cast ballots this June compared to last
Election official across the state reported a low voter turnout for Tuesday’s election, according to the Portland Press Herald. Compared to last year’s June election, about 400 more Brunswick residents turned up at polling this year, according to town voter history data.
State data shows that over 17,000 Brunswick residents are registered to vote, though only a tiny portion of that population typically votes during June elections. Higher turnouts are more common with presidential primary elections earlier in the spring or November elections.
This month’s vote, however, had a low turnout compared to the March presidential primary election, which drew over 3,700 residents to the polls, according to voter history data.
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