REGION — A second referendum for Maine School Administrative District 17’s 2024-25 budget was rejected Tuesday during a special election.

With 1,299 votes cast, the result was 596 in favor and 703 against the $50.7 million budget.

The district’s original operating budget was proposed at $51.3 million and included a capital improvement request of $2 million, for a total budget of $53.5 million. Voters rejected that budget during state elections in June with a tally of 1,236 yes and 1,846 no.

In an unusual turn, two of the smaller communities in the district — Harrison and West Paris — were the difference makers that brought defeat to the revised budget.

Harrison had a robust turnout, with 49 voting to approve and 211 voting to reject the spending plan.

West Paris voters also made a strong statement against it, with just 24% of 141 ballots approving the budget.

Residents in both of those towns fear losing their community elementary schools to district consolidation. The schools in those towns have significant safety concerns as well.

In West Paris, Agnes Gray Elementary School was closed midway through the last academic year when numerous structural problems and fire safety risks were identified. At that time its first through sixth grade students were split between Guy E. Rowe Elementary School in Norway and Paris Elementary School. This September, most of its students will continue their education at PES, with a small number being enrolled at Hebron Station School instead.

Harrison Elementary School, which is attended by third through sixth grade students from Harrison and Waterford, does not have a fire suppression system. Many residents have voiced dismay about the lack of sprinklers. But another factor that has rankled the community is carrying the highest local tax share burden when it contributes one of the district’s lower student populations, due to state-level formulas that calculate real estate assessments.

After the June referendum, Harrison’s Board of Selectmen directed Town Manager Cass Newell to research and report to them possible exit options from SAD 17.

In Hebron, Norway, Otisfield and Waterford, residents voted in favor of the budget.

Oxford reported a razor thin defeat, with 70 voting for and 71 voting against it.

In Paris, of 281 ballots, 129 voters approved and 152 rejected the budget.

In an email statement Tuesday night to the Advertiser Democrat, SAD 17 Superintendent Heather Manchester wrote: “Thank you to the citizens of the Oxford Hills who participated in the budget referendum. We recognize the support of the budget from 4 out of the 8 towns in the district. Moving forward, our task is to identify reductions in areas that have the least impact on the education of our students while arriving at a figure that meets the needs of our taxpayers.”