Voters in the towns of Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales passed a $19.7 million spending plan for Regional School Unit 4 on Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.
The budget, which is up $355,984 from this year’s, or 1.89 percent, includes money for a new police officer who will be hired by the Sabattus Police Department and contracted to the district as a school resource officer. It also includes a payment for the replacement of the Oak Hill High School roof, a project completed last year with state support.
The budget passed 1,055-640 in a districtwide vote, according to unofficial results. The budget passed overwhelmingly in Sabattus and Wales, with about 74 percent of voters in both towns approving it.
Support was more tepid in Litchfield, where about 53 percent approved.
Some Litchfield officials had opposed the budget proposal vocally and urged voters to reject it, citing their concern that the town must pay too great a share of the district’s costs.
Of the three towns in the district, Litchfield is the only one where taxes will increase under the new budget. The local property tax rate for Litchfield residents would increase by an estimated $7.39 on a $100,000 home, according to figures in RSU 4’s annual report. In Wales, the rate would decrease by $4.75 on home of that value. In Sabattus, the rate would decrease by $26.23 on such a home.
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