SACO — Residents of Regional School Unit 23 voted Wednesday to leave unchanged the $43.2 million budget proposed by the school board.

Voters in Saco, Dayton and Old Orchard Beach will be asked to approve the budget at the polls on Nov. 6.

That will be the third attempt to pass a school budget. In June, voters rejected a $43.6 million budget, then in July said no to a $43.5 million budget.

The school district has been operating on the $43.5 million budget because it was the most recent budget approved by the school board.

About 140 people attended the regional budget meeting held Wednesday at Saco Middle School. Only one resident commented on the budget and no one proposed amendments to change the total, said Superintendent Patrick Phillips.

Phillips said there seemed to be broad support for the budget, with only about five people voting against it.

“People are beginning to understand the larger picture rather than focusing solely on a one-year tax increase,” he said. “We are operating with a lean budget and are being very conservative and cautious about spending.”

The $43.2 million budget is about $1.8 million less than last year’s budget and represents a net decrease in spending of nearly $400,000. The district received more than $1 million in additional state funding, but also faced a $4.7 million revenue loss.

Staff reductions under the proposed budget include reducing to part-time a central office assistant and principal at Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach.

Also eliminated are a part-time Title I teacher at C.K. Burns School in Saco, a part-time education technician at Fairfield School in Saco and a bus driver, all positions that are now vacant.

The school board also eliminated $431,500 from various departments, including transportation, supplies and bond refinancing.