DIXFIELD — In just over an hour, an overwhelming majority of voters passed a $33.4 million budget for the Western Foothills Regional School Unit.

The money will cover fiscal year 2010-11, which begins July 1.

Tom Standard of Sumner offered amendments to the first 11 money articles, making them about 14 percent less than the number presented.

“We’re in hard times. We’re all having to cut back, to just the essentials as required by the state,” he said. He said the reduction represented the amount being requested over the state’s essential programs and services amount.

All his amendments failed to pass.

Dixfield resident Dan McKay also objected to the proposed budget figure.

“I’ve been mandated by the taxpayers in my town. Taxes are going up, the budget is going up, and this will increase it. We can’t afford to raise taxes every year,” he said. “I’ve lived in Dixfield all my life and I’ve never seen spending as it’s happening in this town.”

Each of the 21 articles were passed with only two to four people objecting, Superintendent Tom Ward said.

Earlier in the budget meeting, he told residents that because of substantial state aid and federal decreases, $1.9 million had to be cut to arrive at no increase over this year.

Eleven teaching positions, one administrative position, and several support positions were eliminated to arrive at the proposed figure.

Residents of all 12 towns will have a chance to validate Thursday’s budget adoption at a referendum Tuesday, June 8. There will be two questions: Whether the figure adopted Thursday should be approved and whether residents want to continue with the two-part budget approval process.

Ward said he was pleased with the turnout of about 60 people.

“When people are satisfied with the job you have done, you don’t get large turnouts. We’ve worked hard. I hope people are satisfied,” he said.

Times and places for voting Tuesday are: Buckfield, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., municipal center; Byron, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., town office; Canton, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., town office; Carthage, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., town office; Dixfield, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., American Legion Hall; Hanover, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., town office; Hartford, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., town hall; Mexico, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., town hall; Peru, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., town hall; Roxbury, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., town office; Rumford, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., American Legion Hall; and Sumner, 10 a.m. to 8 p .m., municipal center.

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