BIDDEFORD — A recount of the results of Thursday’s school budget vote, when Biddeford residents rejected the City Council-approved school budget for the third time, will take place Monday.

The vote rejecting the $32.6 million school budget was 1,035-902.

Resident and Mayor Emeritus JoAnne Twomey requested the recount.

On the Facebook page “Vote Yes On Education,” Twomey wrote at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, “I just submitted a request for a recount, I do not believe our staff is incompetent, but where this was hand counted and it took so long, I think it is worth having a recount.”

The recount is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall. The public is invited to attend, according to City Clerk Carmen Morris.

Twomey voted in favor of the fiscal year 2013 school budget, which began July 1.

Historically, she has been a staunch education advocate. During her tenure as mayor, Twomey championed a $34 million bond to pay for the renovation of Biddeford High School, a project that was completed this year.

In the 2009 November election, residents approved the bond and also voted her in for a second term.

On Thursday, outside of the J. Richard Martin Community Center, where voting took place, Twomey said prior to the vote she had gone door-to-door campaigning for the budget.

It was the second time voters rejected the $32.6 million budget. On Aug. 16, Biddeford residents had voted against a budget of the same amount.

As a result of that vote, Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray presented a budget that was approximately $500,000 lower than the figure that was voted on.

The school committee voted for the lesser amount, but the city council did not.

“They put the same question out again,” said Mayor Alan Casavant. “People were angry at that.”

Some councilors said they didn’t believe the vote was representative of the public will.

“Taxpayers sent us a message again, the budget is too high,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray.

Neither the City Charter nor the Code of Ordinances speaks to recounts, said the city clerk.

In organizing the recount, Morris said she is falling the state election law, Title 21. However, she noted that statute only refers to recounts of candidate races, not referendum questions.

According to Morris, Twomey will be present at the recount to represent those in favor of the failed budget referendum and resident Ron Peaker will represent those against it. In addition, a majority of the city council must be present for the unsealing of the ballot boxes.

Morris said during her approximately 19-year tenure in the city clerk’s office, there has been no previous request for a recount for a referendum question.

The cost for the June 26 school budget validation referendum was $1,300; the price tag for the election on Aug. 16 was just under $3,100.

The major expense for both elections was advertising in the three local newspapers, including the Journal Tribune. Advertising costs were $760 in June and $2,200 in August.

Morris said she has not yet calculated the expenses for Thursday’s election.

State statute mandates that the school budget cannot be accepted until it is approved by a public referendum. Therefore, another vote must take place, which could be scheduled for the general election on Nov. 6.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.