WINDSOR -- School officials say voters may have been confused when they went to the polls last week and voted not to validate the school budget at referendum.

The budget failed by six votes.

School Superintendent Greg Potter said the amount the town has to raise for education spending -- the local share -- was actually $18,304 or 1.35 percent less than last year.

The people who went to the polls and voted the budget down may not have been as well informed as those who were involved in a discussion at the prior town meeting, he said. Voters at that meeting approved the $4.8 million budget.

"The net savings to the local people is $18,304," Potter said. "That's why I think, although we had good support at the town meeting, that perhaps there was some confusion with people going to the polls. They weren't as well informed as the folks who came and participated in the discussion at the town meeting."

This is the first year an article on the town warrant with the final budget figure included federal grants and anticipated revenue, which he said made the budget look about $218,298 higher than it is.

"It was the first time we actually asked permission for other expenditures," he said. "We were not raising additional money. We've always had these grants. And technically, we don't have to ask the community to spend this money. And that may have confused people."

He said the local share went down and the state commitment went up more than $50,000.

Without the municipal budget, he said the school budget alone would have actually reduced the anticipated tax commitment.

Potter said school officials didn't do a good enough job getting information out to the public. He said residents will be better educated when they go to the next town meeting and referendum, which have yet to be scheduled.

The town will hold another town meeting to consider the school budget, then host another validation vote within 14 days, not including weekends or major holidays, he said.

Until the final vote, he said the school will continue to operate on the current budget, which was actually higher than the proposal.

There is a cost associated with scheduling another town meeting and referendum.

Selectman Jerry Nault estimates it will cost the town $200 to hold another town meeting and $300 for the referendum.

"And that's largely for personnel costs," Nault said. "There's a monitor who has to do both of those, even if it's a quick thing, you've got to pay him. And at least four election officials plus a clerk who have to be involved in the referendum."

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com