JAY — Voters approved a $5.27 million municipal budget Tuesday with all 35 articles passing, Town Clerk Ronda Palmer said.

She said 423 of 3,239 registered voters cast ballots.

Voters elected Keith Cornelio to a two-year second selectperson seat. Cornelio received 163 votes, while challenger Daniel Finley received 128 votes and challenger Joyce Badeau received 105 votes.

Residents also elected Judy Diaz to a three-year term for the third selectperson seat. Diaz received 240 votes to Barbara Cook’s 164 votes.

Re-elected to three-year terms on the Regional School Unit 73 board of directors were Doug DiPasquale with 243 votes and Shari Ouellette with 283 votes. Former RSU 73 Director Darcie Calden was elected to a one-year term with 354 votes, Palmer said.

The 2016-17 budget is $368,434 less than the current budget. After factoring in $1.38 million in anticipated revenues, it means taxpayers will have to raise $3.88 million, $415,434 less than last year.

The figures do not include Jay’s share of costs for RSU 73 or Franklin County.

Under the town’s proposed spending package for July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, the Town Office staff will be reduced.

The budget eliminates a 15-hour, part-time position in the Finance Department and reduces the deputy town clerk’s hours from 38¾ per week to 30 hours.

With the reduction in staff hours, the Town Office would be closed to the public Wednesday mornings beginning July 1. The majority of staff would continue to work Wednesday mornings.

In other elections, Stephan Franchetti was re-elected to a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the North Jay Water District.

Leslie “Les” Gatchell was elected to a three-year term on the Jay Village Water District.

Both men were uncontested.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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