SABATTUS – Voters have passed the recommended $18.3 million budget for the new regional school unit, eliminating 10 positions and creating two more.

Union 44 Business Manager Chris Trenholm said the final tally on the three-town vote Tuesday night was 304-204. Litchfield residents voted 133-79, Sabattus 107-69 and Wales 64-56.

The new budget, $18.3 million, is $1.1 million less than the three towns’ budgets last year. Savings, he said, came in not having to reimburse for sending students to each others’ schools, in locking in a lower heating oil price and in eliminating 10 teaching and support positions. Of those positions, he said, two represent retirements and one-and-a-half positions weren’t currently filled.

Under the new budget, Trenholm said:

• Litchfield’s assessment is $2.8 million (down $326,671 from last year).

• Sabattus’ assessment is $2.6 million (up $134,881 from last year).

• Wales’ assessment is $977,080 (up $66,532 from last year).

Figures, he said, are based on property valuation and enrollment.

No programs were eliminated and two positions were added: half-time math and reading interventionists for grades K-8.

The school system’s new structure, to be known as Regional School Unit 4, becomes official July 1.

The new board’s “primary goal is to be very sensitive to all the taxpayers of the RSU,” Trenholm said. It’s been meeting since December.