Salem — Residents at a referendum Wednesday approved the town’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year by a 217-89 vote.

The $14.3 million budget includes $3.4 million in general government spending, $10.1 million for the school district and $794,730 for capital improvements.

Overall, the spending plan is approximately 1 percent less than the current year’s budget. Under the proposal and when factoring in a recent townwide revaluation of all assessed property, the tax rate will increase from 24.50 to 29.65 mills.

A resident with $200,000 of assessed property will now face a $130 increase in taxes.

“I think it was very fair,” First Selectman Kevin Lyden said. “By the numbers, the town supported it.”

Lyden said that a 5.38 percent increase in the general government budget was largely the result of moving outstanding debt from the school budget.

The town owes $92,353 for renovations at East Lyme High School, which began in 2000 and to which the town agreed to contribute on a yearly basis. The town has the Salem School, which educates elementary and middle-school children, and sends its high school students to East Lyme in a cooperative agreement.

Lyden also said a $100,000 bond payment on the Salem School renovation project was moved from the school to the general government budget.

Lyden said voter turnout was approximately 11 percent. The turnout was up slightly from last year, when 258 people voted and approved the budget by 186 to 72 votes.

jeff.johnson@theday.com