AUGUSTA — Voters overwhelmingly approved a $28.4 million Augusta school budget Tuesday.

Voters approved the single question on the school budget referendum — asking whether they supported the total school budget — 1,460 to 568.

The vote was the first time Augusta residents could vote on a school budget. A new state law on school reorganizations requires every school budget in Maine to go to voters in a secret ballot referendum.

Previously, the local school budget was adopted by the Augusta Board of Education, then forwarded to the City Council for their vote, which was final.

Results were unofficial late Tuesday night.

- Keith Edwards