Election officials Murial Smith, left, and Carrie Barnett hand ballots to a voter Tuesday at the Litchfield Sportsmen’s Club in Litchfield. Libby Rodrigue, deputy registrar, said that voter turnout has been “much steadier than I thought it would be.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

WALES — Some 1,321 residents from Wales, Sabattus and Litchfield turned out Tuesday to vote down a $23.37 million Regional School Unit 4 budget.

The results were 498 in favor and 813 against.

Wales residents voted 96 in favor and 129 against; Sabattus, 206 to 327; and Litchfield 196 to 357.

The $23.37 million budget represented an 8.4%, or $1.79 million, increase from last year’s budget and drew much concern among residents throughout the process.

Superintendent Katy Grondin said at the May 16 school board meeting that $1.2 million of the increase comes from mandatory contractual salary and benefit increases. The remaining $590,000 in the increase comes from special education and transportation categories, she said.

Lina Fontes receives her ballot Tuesday from election official Tara Thornton at the Litchfield Sportsmen’s Club in Litchfield. Oak Hill High School junior Noah Perrier is left of Thornton. Perrier is one of three Oak Hill students that volunteered to help with elections. Bethany Sirois is at right. Tuesday was Sirois’ first time volunteering as an election clerk. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

The RSU 4 board of directors approved the budget May 16 after residents attempted to convince directors further cuts should be made, specifically to the transportation category. Many residents spoke strongly against any cuts to transportation, as a lack of a full bus service was the primary concern among the public last year.

Grondin told the Sun Journal on Tuesday night that board Chairperson Jill Bouchard of Litchfield plans to ask for an adjustment to the June 12 meeting agenda to discuss a timeline for the next school budget referendum. Bouchard will also request a budget discussion.

The RSU 4 central office will continue working with the board as they work to adopt a budget to present to voters at a later date, Grondin said.

“I encourage the voters to continue to go to our website to review budget information and to submit questions they may have about the budget,” Grondin said.

Eileen Turcotte heads to the ballot box after voting Tuesday at the Litchfield Sportsmen’s Club in Litchfield. Libby Rodrigue, deputy registrar, said that voter turnout has been “much steadier than I thought it would be.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal