WALES — Voters said no, again.

Residents in Sabattus and Wales defeated the new Regional School Unit 4 school budget in a referendum Tuesday, according to results from town clerks.

Litchfield residents were the only ones to pass it, voting 84-71 in favor. Sabattus voted 68-111; Wales voted 43-50.

The cumulative results, 195-232, were enough to sink the $17.69 million 2013-2014 budget.

Voters turned down the first budget proposal on June 11.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin had speculated at the time that the anticipated tax increase was too much for some residents. The new budget had been trimmed by $55,000 and $175,000 in increased state aid had come in since the first vote.

The anticipated impact on the tax rate for the newest proposal had been an increase of 71 cents per $1,000 of property valuation in Litchfield, $1.28 in Sabattus and $1.11 in Wales.

kskelton@sunjournal.com

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