East Lyme — Residents approved the $63,173,158 town budget for 2013-14 at Thursday's referendum.

According to Registrar of Voters Carol Marelli, 724 votes were cast in favor of the spending plan, while 224 were against it.

The budget, a 1.54 percent increase over this year's budget, comprises about $15.46 million for general government, $41.94 million for education, $988,015 for capital and $4.78 million for debt service.

The tax rate increase is expected to be about half a mill, said First Selectman Paul Formica. The Board of Finance will set the tax rate at a later meeting.