RUMFORD – Voters during their first nontraditional annual town meeting referendum on Tuesday raised just over $7.5 million to run the town for the year.

By a vote of 714-554, they declined, however, to give town officials approval to spend more than the tax cap imposed by the state. That means selectmen will soon be back to the drawing board in an attempt to find ways to cut about $130,000 out of the budget.

Selectman Greg Buccina, who was elected chairman at Tuesday night’s reorganizational meeting, said Wednesday that the board at the June 21 meeting will likely set a workshop session to look for places to cut.

The results will most likely go before voters at a special election.

“Our aggressive goal (for next year) is to have a budget that falls within the tax cap,” he said.

He said some cuts, particularly as the board develops the 2008-2009 budget, may mean eliminating some municipal positions.

“People must understand the ramifications of the tax cap,” he said.

Voters approved all 20 initiated articles, or special agency requests. Before the election, the fate of some of the articles had concerned many because if any were voted down, that meant the agency or project would not receive any funds, unlike municipal articles that could be reworked and submitted again for a vote.

Among the special article approvals were: $95,000 for the Greater Rumford Community Center and $28,400 for the center’s summer program; $70,000 for Black Mountain of Maine; $10,000 for the River Valley Growth Council; about $12,000 for the St. Athanasius and St. John School; and $4,000 for the River Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Municipal approvals included: $755,777 for general government; $913,737 for the police department; $900,000 for the fire department; and $1,150,905 for public works.

The town also asked voters to give their opinions on the level of service they believe the police, fire, public works, public library and parks departments should provide. Although a clear majority of voters chose to keep the current levels of service, Buccina said studies during the next few months in an attempt to develop a municipal budget that does not exceed the tax cap may call for some reductions.

He said selectmen plan to hear presentations from each of the targeted department heads at the board’s July 5 board meeting.

Voters also approved 13 new or amended ordinances and three charter amendments. Among those changes are: allowing the positions of code enforcement officer, sealer of weights and measures and plumbing inspector to be combined; allowing selectmen to waive the residency requirement for the auditor, solicitor, code enforcement officer, plumbing inspector, and sealer of weights and measures, if necessary; and adoption of the International Residential (building) Code.

Buccina said he looks at his chairmanship and the upcoming year optimistically.

“Perhaps we’ll have shorter agendas to start,” he said.

At Tuesday night’s organizational meeting, selectmen unanimously adopted the use of Robert’s Rules of Order in place of the way they have been conducting meetings.

Buccina said he, and others, will have to learn the ins and outs of Robert’s Rules of Order. He also hopes people will have patience with the new board.

After Tuesday’s election ousted 12-year veteran Joleene Lovejoy, the only woman to ever serve the town as a selectman, Buccina and Selectman Mark Belanger have the most time on the board, with two years each. Selectman Arthur Boivin has one year, while Selectman Bradford Adley and Frank DiConzo were elected Tuesday.