Mascenic voters voted against the proposed district budget Tuesday, putting the district into the default budget.

This will be the second year in a row the district has failed the proposed budget, although in 2024, the School Board was advocating for the default budget after a $1 million cut to the proposed budget during the district’s deliberative session. This year, the default – set at $21.96 million – was lower than the district’s proposed budget of $22.34 million, a difference of $362,654.

New Ipswich voters were the deciding factor in the vote, with 424 voting yes on the budget, compared to 508 against. While Greenville voters supported the budget in an 83-66 vote, it was not enough to close the gap.

Voters in New Ipswich did support all other articles on the district’s warrant. Greenville supported all but one, though the combined votes of both towns resulted in all other articles besides the budget passing.

Aside from the budget, New Ipswich’s closest vote was on the collective bargaining agreement with the Mascenic Education Association, which covers three years of salary and benefits increases. New Ipswich voted 482-449 in support of the contract, while Greenville voted 94-55 in support.

New Ipswich voters were in favor of adding to all three capital reserves on the warrant this year, which included $150,000 for the maintenance capital reserve, to come from the end-of-the-year fund balance. The article carries a caveat that the transfer will only happen if the fund balance has at least $700,000 on July 1. While New Ipswich supported the article 578-356, Greenville voters opposed it it 137-112. Overall, the article passed.

Voters in both towns supported $50,000 from the unreserved fund balance for the special education capital reserve and to establish a technology capital reserve and place $10,000 in it.

Neilson wins contestedat-large seat

This year, both towns had the opportunity to weigh in on a single at-large seat to fulfill the remainder of a one-year term. While the candidate must be from the town of Greenville, both towns vote on the candidate. Stephen Spratt, the current board chair, and Eric Neilson, who is also a current member of the board, both ran for the seat.

Greenville supported Spratt over Neilson in a 78-56 vote, but New Ipswich favored Neilson 339-301. Together, Neilson received a total of 395 votes to Spratt’s 379.

Three other seats were decided in this election, all in uncontested races. Jeremy Klebes received 130 votes for a three-year seat as Greenville’s representative, and sitting members Mitch Gluck and Ellen Salmonson received 655 and 720 votes for the two seats for New Ipswich representative.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.