SABATTUS – When voters rejected the Sabattus school budget June 10, most who voted no said spending was too high.

Of those who said no, 261 wanted less spent, while 28 wanted more spent.

Since then, the school board added $20,000 to the budget. That budget will be explained and debated at a July 16 town meeting.

The budget grew to $6.13 million to cover higher fuel costs, school board member Gary Blais said Wednesday. He offered another reason why the budget was increased despite calls for lower spending.

The overall budget vote was close; 261 said yes, 264 said no. When the 28 who voted no because they wanted more spent are added with the 261 who voted for the budget, the school board concluded a majority favored the budget or a higher one, Blais said.

Overall the budget is 2.3 percent higher than last year, but $224,000 of last year’s school budget surplus “came back to the town, as opposed to spending it,” Blais said. “The board chose to give that to the townspeople to reduce the overall cost of taxpayers.” Because of more money from the state, what’s asked of property taxpayers will actually be less than last year, officials said.

The proposed budget “basically keeps programs and services we have at the schools. Reading and math programs are starting to show some improvement,” Blais said. The board would like that to continue, he said. The higher budget is due to health insurance cost increases, 3 percent raises for teachers, and higher energy costs.

Last month’s voting turnout was small with 525 of about 3,000 voters showing up to vote.

Blais said he hopes for a higher voter turnout the second time on July 22, “but I’d hate to speculate. It will depend on how many people are on vacation.”

At Wednesday’s town meeting, citizens will vote on the budget amount that will be appear on the ballot. That amount can be decreased, but can’t be increased, Blais said.

“People may come in and cut money out. The school board is willing to work with them,” Blais said, but he warned there would “be ramifications.”

Wednesday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Sabattus Central School.

– Bonnie Washuk