Voters reject school operating, SAU budgets

While many big-ticket items were turned down, voters did approve needed repairs to MES. (Courtesy photo)

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MILTON - Milton voters handily rejected a proposed $9.8 million dollar school budget on Tuesday, 498-395, leaving administrators with a somewhat trimmed-down default budget of $9.4 million.

The article's defeat will save taxpayers about $440,000.

But voters were just getting started, also easily defeating the nearly $1 million SAU budget, 546-345. As with the operating budget, the default budget will now be in place.

Residents, however, did seem to be more favorable to physical plant repairs, including a $50,000 appropriation for brick and mortar repair and $32,000 for new shingles at the Milton Elementary School.

Another big ticket item soundly rejected was a $162,000 lease plan for new computers at MES, Nute Middle School and Nute High School and Library. The measure was defeated 535-369.

Voters, however, did narrowly approve $5,000 to purchase library media for the Nute High School, 464-436.

The only contested race on the school side gave Stefanie Berry and Lue Snyder both three-year terms on the School Board, Berry getting the lion's share of votes with 606, followed by Snyder with 422 and Larry Brown with an even 300.