In a four-town referendum Tuesday, School Administrative District 61 voters approved a $25.4 million school budget.

Residents of Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago voted to approve the budget 929-455. The $25.4 million budget had been increased by $100,000 at a district meeting May 15 from the amount recommended by the SAD 61 School Board.

Before incease, Casco residents were expected to see a decrease in the town share for the budget decrease by less than 1 percent from the current fiscal year. Naples residents will contribute at least 2.7 percent more, Sebago residents will contribute at least 4.8 percent more, and Bridgton residents will contribute 8 at least percent more.

The ballot simply asked if voters approved the SAD 61 budget adopted May 15. The new, two-part system for determining the school budget, which includes the so-called budget validation referendum, is a requirement of the school consolidation law passed by the Legislature in June 2007.

Some voters were unaware of the details of the budget when they voted. “I think some information should have been put there,” said Jonathon Marcous about the school budget ballot just after voting in Naples. Marcous did not attend the budget meeting.

Anne and Bill Goth of Naples said they have been following the school budget and thought it was reasonable.

Sherrie Weese, the financial coordinator for SAD 61 about 138 people came to the May 15 budget meeting. Only one issue brought significant discussion, Weese said, and that was reinstating the half-hour a day in schedules for educational technicians that had been cut from the budget.

In an 92-46 vote, those attending the meeting voted to add $100,000 for pre-K-12 instruction. Ultimately, it will be up to the SAD 61 School Board to decide where the money goes.