LIVERMORE FALLS — The newly minted RSU 73 finally has a budget.

Voters in the three member towns narrowly passed the $18.59 million budget 543-516, with Jay turning it down by just six votes.

Residents of Livermore voted 143-136, Livermore Falls, 116-90, and Jay, 284-290.

This is the third time member towns have acted on a proposed budget at referendum. They defeated the first proposed budget of $18.8 million in June, and the second of $18.7 million in July.

Before each referendum vote, people at the required districtwide budget meeting passed the proposed figures.

Superintendent Robert Wall said after hearing the unofficial results, “I think that everyone feels that the process is such that we appreciate the support. We’ll be providing the quality of education people expect.”

The board has spent numerous nights at special meetings trying to arrive at a figure that voters would approve while also ensuring the the educational program will continue.

It holds its next meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, to validate the vote and to take care of other business needed before the beginning of the school year. Classes resume Aug. 28 for students.

This will be the first year that freshmen from Spruce Mountain High School North, in Jay, and Spruce Mountain High School South, in Livermore Falls, will attend high school under the same roof. SMHSS sophomores, juniors and seniors will continue to attend classes at their home school, for at least the next school year.

Getting all secondary students under one roof in Jay will be a major priority for the RSU 73 board this school year.

Voters turned down a $5.3 million proposal in May that would have allowed construction of a major addition and renovation of SMHSN. All students from both campuses would then have come together. Board committees now are studying each district building to learn whether space could be rearranged so that a smaller and less expensive addition could be built, or if it’s needed at all.