RSU 4 voters reject 2nd school budget

WALES — Voters in Regional School Unit 4 rejected the proposed budget of $18.8 million for fiscal year 2016-17 by a vote of 184-213.

The amount was $100,000 less than the previously rejected budget.

The towns voted as follows:

• Sabattus, rejected, 59-94;

• Litchfield, rejected, 77-96; and

• Wales, approved, 48-23.

The school board will meet tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. at Oak Hill High School to discuss the next step.

“The board won’t hurry into creating a new budget,” Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said in a statement. “Voters approved this budget at the meeting and there is no fluff unless we take programs away from our students and staff. This budget is bare bones.”