DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board has set a budget timeline to try to get an approved 2013-14 operating budget.

Voters in the 12 member towns last week turned down a proposed $36.18 million budget by 32 votes — 1,541 to 1,573.

This was the first time in its four years of existence a proposed budget for Regional School Unit 10 was defeated. It was also the first time since Tom Ward has been superintendent that a proposed budget has had to go to a second vote. During the six years he was superintendent of the former SAD 21 in Dixfield, no budget was ever defeated. The former SAD 21 is one of the three member districts of RSU 10.

The larger towns, Rumford and Mexico, voted in opposition. The official vote for Rumford was 603-778, and for Mexico, 226-255.

Other town’s official votes were: Buckfield, 102-111; Byron, 5-8; Canton, 97-41; Carthage, 10-8; Dixfield, 252-129; Hanover, 12-3; Hartford, 32-33; Peru, 166-142; Roxbury, 16-31; and Sumner, 20-34.

Most towns, including Rumford and Mexico, were slated to see a lowering of school taxes under the defeated budget.

“I don’t want to cut more; we’ve been cutting every year,” Ward told the board.

According to a newly enacted state law, the district can operate on the defeated-at-referendum budget until a new budget has been approved because at the districtwide town meeting-style vote on May 30, the proposed figure was approved.

The board will meet at 6:30 p.m. July 8 to devise a budget figure. Whether it will be less than the $36.18 million, a 2.95 percent increase over the current fiscal year’s figure, is not yet known.

On July 23 and July 24, informational meetings will be scheduled on the new proposal. One will be in the Dirigo/Mountain Valley regions, the other in the Nezinscot region. Specific venues and times have not yet been set.

A districtwide, town meeting-style vote will take place on Thursday, July 25. Residents from each town will act on the figure approved at the districtwide meeting at their individual polls on Tuesday, July 30.

Ward said an approved state budget should be in place sometime next week, which will affect the amount of money RSU 10 will receive. He said he expects additional funds to be added to the state’s General Purpose Aid to Education that will more than offset the $400,000 the district must pay in teacher retirement. Previously, that had been the state’s share.