LISBON — After seven months and five referendums, voters passed a school budget by a nearly 3-1 ratio Tuesday night.

 

 

The five referendums have cost taxpayers a total of $15,000.

 

In November, a $15.03 million budget was rejected by voters, with townspeople saying they wanted to see a higher amount, as they did in each of the budget referendums held since June 2015.

 

At the School Committee meeting Monday night, members discussed accepting the Town Council’s proposal that would put $58,000 back into the school budget. It was unclear what the money would be used for.

 

The School Committee is to pay back up to $29,000 of the $58,000, if there is money left at the end of the year.

 

According to School Committee Chairman Traci Austin, however, it’s not that simple.

 

“We can’t spend any more money than what the referendum listed,” Austin said Monday night.

 

Superintendent Richard Green told the School Committee that paying back the money, up to $29,000, to the Town Council would have to be after the audit, and considering the committee was still waiting for the current audit report, that might not be until next January.

 

“We need to do due diligence in paying them back,” Green said. “If we don’t have $29,000 available, the Town Council will have to take it out of the town’s undesignated fund.”