MONMOUTH – Townspeople at a school budget meeting Wednesday voted for a higher budget, which would increase property taxes by about 6 percent.

The budget will be voted on in a town-wide referendum Monday. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with absentee voting available Thursday and Friday.

Following three hours of debate on how much should be spent on Monmouth schools, residents who attended voted 99-43 for a $7.62 million school budget. They rejected by a vote of 96-46 the selectmen’s recommended smaller school budget of $7.42 million.

Monday’s ballot question will ask voters to say yes or no to the budget. There will be no dollar amount and no explanation of the impact on taxes on the ballot.

That information will be posted in the voting area, said Monmouth Town Manager Curtis Lunt.

Monday will be the second time Monmouth residents vote on a school spending plan. On June 10, voters rejected the budget, which was nearly $500,000 smaller that the one that will be decided on Monday.

Some at Wednesday’s meeting insisted the no vote was because not enough was being spent on schools. Others insisted voters said no because spending was too high.

Voters on Monday who say no will be asked to indicate why, giving officials a better understanding should the budget fail again.

If approved, the school budget would increase by 10.7 percent. It would increase property taxes by more than $100 for the average taxpayer.

According to the state’s Essential Programs and Services formula, the town should spend $2.01 million in local money for education. Voters on Monday will be asked to spend $152,000 more than that. School Committee member Doug Beck said the town needs to spend more because the EPS formula doesn’t cover essentials.

One reason the school budget is higher than last year, Superintendent Leon Duff said, is because of higher teacher salaries. Average teacher wages in Monmouth are about $43,000, not counting this year’s $2,000 across-the-board raise, stipends and benefits.

Higher fuel costs are another reason the budget is up, and the town intends to improve facilities.

Wednesday night’s meeting seemed to pit younger parents and teachers, who wanted to spend more money on schools, against older residents, who warned that those on fixed incomes could not bear higher property taxes.

Jeff Musich was among those who spoke for a higher budget. Everyone is worried about higher fuel costs this winter, he said, but the good of the town depends on the school system.

“People are moving here for the school system. It’s why I moved here. It’s why many of us moved here,” Musich said.

He urged those on fixed incomes to “think about when your kids were in the school system … Our town is vigorous because of the schools.”

Rick Guyon disagreed, saying “this town’s gone crazy. My taxes went up $100 the first year I moved here for the schools, which was fine.” When property was reevaluated last year, “my taxes went up $900. Now you want $250 to $300 more from me?” Guyon said. “No.”

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