NEW GLOUCESTER - By a 3-to-1 margin, voters on Tuesday passed a $21 million SAD 15 budget.

The vote was 1,465-543.

Gray voters approved the budget 965-351. In New Gloucester, voters agreed 500-192.

Last Thursday, voters OK'd 13 warrant articles paving the way for Tuesday's up or down validation vote. It marked the first time for the new budget adoption process that's required by state law.

The $1,351,409 budget increase accounts for 6.86 percent of the spending. The budget includes the first of 10 annual loan payments on the roughly $10 million to renovate or construct five district schools. This year's payment is $765,394.

Fixed costs in the budget account for 2.97 percent or $586,015.

The budget eliminates four teachers due to decreasing enrollment, plus 4.5 special education ed techs, a half-time secretary and a supervisor of maintenance and custodians.

New programs and positions include three teachers and several stipend positions. An activity bus and supervision for middle and high school students will be offered.

Write-in candidate Gary Harriman won a post on the SAD 15 board representing New Gloucester with 42 votes. Josh McHenry, a write-in candidate, garnered 31 votes.

Nathaniel "Nat" Berry with 608 votes and Pamela Slye with 550 votes were elected to the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen.