Voters came through for the Bedford School Board as all 10 warrant articles passed on Election Day, March 13.

For the new Bedford High School and middle school, voters approved bonding $2.7 million for first-year furniture costs, an initial library collection and athletic grandstands.

Also approved was the district’s 2007-08 operating budget of $52,771,263, by a 2,290-750 vote.

“We’re pleased that the voters have supported the board,” said Superintendent Tim Mayes.

The district operating budget, Article 10, had been set up with two possible budgets and default budgets.

The two possible budgets depended on whether voters passed Article 2, because without the bond, taxpayers would have been responsible for furniture and start-up costs for the high school this year. Article 2 was approved by a 2,517-589 vote.

Voters will now be responsible for $69,525, the initial principal and interest payments.

Those payments will add 2 cents in taxes per $1,000 assessed property value.

If voters had rejected Article 10, there would have been two default budgets, which were also dependent on Article 2.

With the bond, the default budget would have been $50,310,393. Without the bond, the default budget would have been $51,764,247.

If the budget did not pass, the opening of the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School and the reconfiguration of grades 5 and 6 would have been delayed.

“We can now go forward full steam with opening the new schools and the reconstruction,” Mayes said.

The budget carries an increase of about $6.8 million, or about 15 percent, more than the current $45.9 million 2006- 07 budget.

With the bond, the tax impact will be a $2.49 increase per $1,000 assessed property value. The total school district tax will be about $14.90 per $1,000. School taxes on a $300,000 home will be about $4,470.

Mayes said voters made the right decision by bonding firstyear costs for the high school.

“That will help us moderate the tax impact over the next 10 years,” he said.

Roy Stewart, president of the Bedford Taxpayers Association, said he was pleased with voters’ decisions.

“Everything on the school side went exactly as we wanted it to,” Stewart said.

Also approved were negotiated salary increases for teachers and custodial staff and secretaries, clerks, teaching assistants and kitchen staff.

These salary increases carry a 23 cent tax increase, or $69 for a $300,000 home.

Voters also passed an article allowing the school board to accept gifts for the district.

Article 11 passed with a 2,708- 349 vote.

Of about 14,680 registered Bedford voters, the unofficial number of votes cast for town issues was 3,157, said Ryk Bullock, school district moderator, who won his bid for re-election.

About 22 percent of registered voters made it to the polls.

School board incumbent David Sacks, who ran for re-election unopposed, will serve another three-year term.