Buxton voters on Tuesday approved two charter changes, elected town officials and authorized SAD 6 to spend $35.6 million for schools.

However, Buxton joined Standish in failing to approve Article 4 that asked for $3.8 million in additional local money. Suzanne Lukas, superintendent of SAD 6, said the defeated article would have go to voters again district wide, but no date has been set yet.

Lukas said the additional local money SAD 6 asked for included money the school district had to spend because the state is not yet paying 55 percent of the cost of education, local debt and a portion of student activities not covered by the state’s Essential Programs and Services funding formula.

What the vote effectively means, according to Lukas, is that while voters approved a $35 million budget for SAD 6, they did not approve of a $3.8 million portion of that amount.

Buxton voters approved the total SAD 6 budget (Article 5), 220-193, but defeated Article 4 by 25 votes, 192 Yes and 217 No.

Standish voters agreed to the whole SAD 6 budget, 309-265, but also defeated Article 4 by 36 votes, 258 Yes to 294 No.

Frye Island voters narrowly approved the entire school budget 8-7 but defeated Article 4 by 7 votes, 4 Yes to 11 No.

Hollis and Limington favored all the SAD 6 articles.

Buxton voters approved a charter change, 257-158, making the town’s treasurer an appointed position by selectmen. The treasurer previously was an elected position combined with that of town clerk, which remains an elected post.

Voters also decided, 250-170, to create a department of public works with a director also appointed by selectmen. The change eliminates the town’s former Highway Department, which was headed by an elected road commissioner.

Buxton chose 10 town officials in uncontested races. John Myers, who ran for the combined town clerk and treasurer post, received the most votes with 396, followed by Susan Myers with 390 for tax collector.

Elected officials and their tallies were Jean Harmon, 309, and Robert Libby, 312, for selectmen; James Smith Jr., 335, SAD 6 director; Cullen Ryan, 334, Planning Board; Dennis Santolucito, 321, Planning Board; Sylvia Young, 276, Personnel Review Committee; Peter Burns, 318, Budget Committee; and Brian Dyer, 298, Budget Committee. Lary Owen received 384 votes as road commissioner, but voters eliminated the post by approving a charter change.

Voters in Buxton cast 429 ballots, including 18 who voted absentee. The turnout represented 6 percent of 7,100 registered voters.

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