The Raymond Selectmen voted 4-1 Tuesday to hold a local referendum vote during the Nov. 4 election on whether to begin the process of withdrawing from Regional School Unit 14.

Selectman Joe Bruno voted against the motion, which also set aside $25,000 in contingency funds toward the formation of a withdrawal exploratory committee. The vote was held in response to a 347-signature petition submitted by Selectwoman Theresa Sadak calling on the selectmen to initiate the withdrawal process.

The Nov. 4 vote is the fourth step in the 22-step process required to withdraw from the school district. The question will ask voters whether they would approve sending a petition for withdrawal to the RSU 14 Board of Directors and the Commissioner of Education.

If a majority of voters approve, the RSU 14 board would need to form a four-member committee to draw up a withdrawal agreement, which would eventually be put to a final vote at a special town meeting.

The board will hold a public hearing on the RSU withdrawal question at its regular 7 p.m. meeting on Oct. 14.