SABATTUS -- Residents hoping for property tax relief will likely be pleased with the 2008-09 school budget voters approved during Thursday's town meeting.

Spending in the budget, which is nearly $6 million, is identical to this year, but because of increased government assistance and money left over from this year, the money raised in property taxes would actually decrease by $439,350.

"It's a reduction to taxpayers by 25.59 percent," said Chris Trenholm, business manager for School Union 44, which includes Wales, Litchfield and Sabattus.

The reduction means someone who owns a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $220 less in property taxes next year if the budget is given final approval during a referendum scheduled for Tuesday.

Voting on the budget, which controls spending for kindergarten-through-eighth-grade education, is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Office.

Two previous budgets passed during town meeting have been rejected during two ratification votes since the beginning of June, but this is the first budget to earn the support of the town's Budget Committee, Trenholm said. Selectmen also support the proposal.

The school board last month approved more than $143,000 in spending cuts from the last budget voters rejected.

More than half of the cuts, about $83,000, come in salary and benefit reductions for three new staff members.

Another $60,000 was reduced from various line items, including professional development, supplies and special education.

The budget maintains an additional $20,000 for heating oil. There are no staffing or program reductions.

Voters at Thursday's meeting had questions about the cuts, but acted relatively quickly to approve the budget, Trenholm said. The meeting lasted about an hour.

If voters Tuesday reject the budget, the process will begin again, but, because of guidelines in the town ordinance, another vote could not take place until after school begins.

Craig Crosby -- 623-3811, Ext. 433

ccrosby@centralmaine.com