LIVERMORE FALLS — Voters narrowly rejected the town’s administration budget for the third time Tuesday and opted not to leave Androscoggin County to join Franklin County.

Voters opposed raising $197,861 for the administration budget by a vote of 260-258. It failed in June at the polls and again in July.

The administration article is $32,695 higher than the 2012-13 amount. The increase is due to residents voting in previous years to change the town clerk/treasurer position from an elected position to appointed. The position was moved in this year’s budget to the administration budget.

The town continues to operate on last year’s budget, but changes will have to be made because the budget will be about $32,000 short of what is needed.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg said the only place left to cut is wages.

Voters opposed joining Franklin County by a vote of 263-257.

dperry@sunjournal.com