MONMOUTH - For the third time in less than a month, voters on Wednesday rejected a proposed school budget.

According to the referendum results, even fewer people than before were willing to accept the tax increase that would come with the $7.62 million budget. The vote was 286 in favor and 421 opposed. Previous votes were much closer.

For some, Wednesday's vote was the final blow.

"We're not going to stay here. We'll move to a town where schools are supported," said Jeff Musich, the father of two school-age children. "It's a simple thing for me. It's a town going after the schools and after the kids and that's a big deal. We're not going to keep our kids here."

Like other small Maine towns, the matter of the Monmouth school budget has resulted in disagreements among residents. On one side are parents with school-age children who are dedicated to improvements in the classrooms. On the other are senior citizens who feel they should not be forced to pay more since they are already on fixed incomes and no longer have children attending the schools.

The proposed $7.62 million school budget is up 6.9 percent over last year's spending. The overall impact on property taxes would be a 2.7 percent increase. It is the same amount that was defeated June 30 and July 14.

Some say any increase is too much.

"I think they should have reduced it to no tax increase," said former selectman and school board member Steve Kolenda. "That probably would have passed."

Instead, town leaders will have to get together again and propose another school budget. Whether the figures will be reworked so that there is no tax increase remains to be seen.

"After three no votes, I think the voters are very clear as to what kind of taxation they want," Kolenda said. "The question is whether our elected officials will respect the will of the people."

The matter of the school budget has been the hot-button issue in Monmouth since the process got under way, according to town officials. Some people, mostly older folks, have said they will move away if their taxes are increased.

Others, like Musich, doubt that any resident would leave as a result of higher taxes that might amount to $30 or $40 a year. On the other hand, parents who want their children in schools supported by the town may very well bail out.

"We're fed up," Musich said. "We moved here for the school. The economy has people scared and they are going after the schools. It's absurd."

It was not clear Wednesday night when town officials would meet again to address the budget.