North Stonington — Residents Tuesday passed both parts of the town's proposed $18.47 million budget.

The budget will result in a 0.25 mill rate increase for residents, bringing the overall rate to 26.10 mills. At the referendum, residents voted on two things: whether to approve a budget of about $12.76 million for education and whether to approve a budget of about $5.7 million for general government, capital and debt redemption costs.

Both proposed budgets were approved with only a one-vote difference in the final tallies: 205-143 for education and 204-143 for general government.

The overall budget, almost $143,000 more than the current year's, features two 40- to 50-percent swings. Overall debt, at about $309,000, is down almost $218,700 from the current year. And the capital expenditures fund, at $611,300, is up almost $205,700, largely because of a $213,900 allotment for an ambulance for the North Stonington Ambulance Association.

After various changes — such as cuts in insurance, utilities and some salaries and increases in the maintenance, student activities and textbooks categories — the Board of Education's $12.76 million budget increased by about $19,500 over the current year's.