It was a victory for school budget proponents when voters approved Article Four in Tuesday’s district referendum.
By a vote of 664 to 498 the residents of SAD 6 elected to raise and appropriate over $3.8 million in additional local funds.
This figure represents a reduction of one dollar from the amount voted down by the district in June.
In Standish, with 487 total votes, turnout was lower than in June. But Tuesday’s referendum passed by 15 votes in the town, with 251 yes and 236 no.
Originally, the article had failed in Standish by 36 votes and district-wide by 51 votes.
The SAD 6 Board of Directors chose to reduce the original budget by only a dollar because many of them felt that voters had misunderstood the wording of Article Four, causing them to believe a yes vote would mean appropriating almost $4 million on top of the total budget figure of $35 million.
“I think this is great,” SAD 6 School Director Chair Oleg Svetlichny said, “because that’s what the 4,000 students in the district deserve – a quality education. I’m very happy.”
“It was a hot button issue,” said Standish resident and Town Council Vice Chairwoman Dolly Lymburner. “I wish it had been a little closer but I’m quite pleased with the vote in Standish. I hope the school board hears the message from Standish as they consider their budget for next year.”
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