FREEPORT – The Board of Directors for the Durham-Freeport-Pownal school system adopted a $23.4 million budget Wednesday.

It’s the first spending plan for the newly consolidated Regional School Unit 5, which begins operations July 1.

The budget will be presented for discussion and a vote by residents of all three towns at a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Freeport High School. They will vote on each article, with the option of proposing changes through amendments on each.

On June 25, residents will vote either yes or no on the spending plan in referendums in each town.

If voters reject the budget, the board will reconsider it and hold another budget meeting and referendum. If a budget is not approved until after July 1, the most recent budget approved by the board will be in effect until voters pass one.

Vice Chairman John Morang announced that the Freeport School Committee voted Monday to return $44,310 to SAD 62 in Pownal because it paid for capital expenses at the high school last year and Durham did not. The money may be used by Pownal to offset the tax impact from the 2009-10 budget.