FARMINGTON — Ten towns in the Mt. Blue Regional School District voted by a solid margin on Thursday to approve the 2012-13 budget.

After a lengthy and confrontational hearing on Monday night, voters approved a slate of warrant articles that sent the proposed $28.9 million budget to voters in each town. The school board reassured voters at that meeting that they would not subcontract custodial services, which would have eliminated 18 jobs and reduced hours for others, eliminating 23 benefit packages.

Directors now are faced with the challenge of finding $200,000 in savings somewhere else in the spending plan. Of the 487 ballots cast, 294 voters approved the budget, and 193 voted against it.

Unofficial town votes
(provided by Superintendent Michael Cormier at 9 p. m.):

Chesterville: 22 yes; 34 no

Farmington: 103 yes; 34 no

Industry: 26 yes; 15 no

New Sharon: 21 yes; 21 no

New Vineyard: 13 yes; 12 no

Starks: 27 yes; 1 no

Temple: 20 yes; 9 no

Vienna: 5 yes; 5 no

Weld: 5 yes; 13 no

Wilton: 52 yes; 49 no

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