KENNEBUNK — Voters in RSU 21 have approved the school district's $37 million budget.
In
a district where the school budget encompasses 73 percent of one of its
town's tax rates, 10 percent or fewer of registered voters turned out
in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel.
In Kennebunk, 724 of the more than 9,000 registered voters in town turned out. In Kennebunkport, 269 residents voted of the town's 2,636 registered voters. And in Arundel, 169 residents voted Tuesday, of the towns 3,000 registered voters.
Superintendent Andrew Dolloff said the newly approved budget has moved forward without controversy, which could have impacted the voter turnout.
"When there is greater controversy, you tend to see a higher turnout," he said. "Certainly, we have seen some larger turnouts in the past in this district but those have been when there are controversial subjects that have created a lot of emotion."
Dolloff said voter turnout is typical of area towns similar in size to RSU 21. In Scarborough, 10 percent of registered voters turned out Tuesday, and in Cape Elizabeth, turnout was at 13 percent.
"It's
pretty typical in this climate that when there aren't those passionate
subjects, you have less of a turnout," Dolloff said.
Matt Fadiman, a member of the RSU 21 Board of Directors who spoke as a voter and Kennebunk resident, said "this is an issue of apathy not lack of awareness or access."
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