GRAY – Sixty-four voters from Gray and New Gloucester unanimously approved a budget for SAD 15 on Thursday.

The spending plan is $19.82 million for 2009-10. The district is expected to receive $515,304 in federal stimulus funds.

The budget is lower than last year by $701,860, and the district will receive $1 million less in state subsidy. Fewer teachers and support staff are planned because of declining revenues.

On June 9, voters will be asked to give final approval of the budget with a simple “yes” or “no” at the polls in Gray and New Gloucester.

During Thursday’s budget meeting, moderator Donald Libby of New Gloucester told voters about a written ballot that allows the district to raise and appropriate $1 million in additional local funds to exceed the state’s Essential Programs and Services allocation model by more than $630,000. Those funds would pay to maintain student-teacher ratios, special education programs, extracurricular and co-curricular programs and transportation-related issues.

The vote on additional local spending was 59-4.

An amendment to the warrant was approved to authorize the school board to spend federal stabilization funds and other sums received from federal or state grants or programs during the coming school year or to use such funds to reduce the district’s assessment in 2010-11.