Voters in Biddeford, Saco, and the towns of Regional School Districts 21, 23 and 57 so far appear to have approved their school budgets, in addition to continuing the school voting process, in Tuesday’s primary election.
A 2009 state law mandated that school districts send their budgets out to a public vote for validation. For municipalities that do not belong to an RSU, such as Biddeford and Saco, budgets must be passed by the school boards and city councils before going to a final public referendum vote.
In addition to approving their respective budgets, communities every three years vote whether to continue the public validation process.
The unofficial results of the referendum are listed below. Biddeford, Saco, RSU 21 – which includes the communities of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport – and RSU 23, which includes Old Orchard Beach, have approved their budgets and voted to continue the budget election process.
Voting totals from Newfield and Shapleigh have not been received and this information will be updated as that information becomes available.
Question 1: Budget Approval
Biddeford: Yes: 1,117; No: 518
Saco: Yes: 1,627; No: 494
RSU 21: (Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport): Yes: 2,828; No: 1,276
- Arundel: Yes: 699; No: 401
- Kennebunk: Yes: 1,602; No: 702
- Kennebunkport: Yes: 527; No: 173
RSU 23 (Old Orchard Beach): Yes: 667; No: 219
RSU 57 (Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh, Waterboro): Yes: 976; No: 586
- Alfred: Yes: 135; No: 66
- Limerick: Yes: 159; No: 129
- Lyman: Yes: 276; No: 118
- Shapleigh: Yes, 69; No: 32
- Waterboro: Yes: 337; No: 241
Results from Newfield were not immediately available.
Question 2: Continue Budget Election
Biddeford: Yes: 1,217; No: 354
Saco: Yes: 1,529; No: 566
RSU 21 (Arundel, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport): Yes: 2,731; No: 1,341
- Arundel: Yes: 594; No: 499
- Kennebunk: Yes: 1,645; No: 642
- Kennebunkport: Yes: 492; No: 200
RSU 23 (Old Orchard Beach): Yes: 642; No: 241
RSU 57 (Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh, Waterboro): Yes: 1,058 ; No: 391
- Alfred: Yes: 131; No: 67
- Limerick: Yes: 201; No: 80
- Lyman: Yes: 279; No: 116
- Waterboro: Yes: 447; No: 128
Results from Newfield and Shapleigh are still awaited.
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