Wiscasset voters will go to the polls Tuesday, July 31, to vote on the school administrative budget that was turned down the first time, June 12 at the annual town election.

The new administrative budget that will be decided on Tuesday, shows a reduction of 16.1 percent from the budget that went before the voters in June.

The failed article asked for $535,444 for the administrative budget, the article that will go before the voters next week is asking for $449,444, a cut of $86,000 from the original article.

The administrative budget is the expenses of the Superintendent's office and the school committee only.

Those expenses included the salaries and benefits for three employees and the superintendent; insurance, dues and legal fees; utilities; equipment, supplies, travel, advertising, contractual services (audit, copier lease and maintenance).

To make these cuts, the school committee and selectmen are recommending to cut $25,000 from the salaries and benefits of the superintendent's office, $6,000 from insurance, dues and fees; $5,000 from equipment, supplies, travel and advertising; and $50,000 from contingency.

The budget committee made no recommendation on this article, being consistent with their approach on the June 12 ballot of only recommending the bottom line to be raised on additional funds which exceeded the state's Essential Programs and Services funding model.

At the June election voters turned down the school committee's recommendation of $1.9 million for the school budget's additional funds, and approved the budget committee's recommendation of $1.5 million, making a total cut of $445,000.

Based on the decrease in the recommended budget by the school committee, the following cuts will be made: Instruction, reduced by $281,090, a 4.8 percent decrease; Special Education reduced by $4,988, a 0.3 percent decrease; Maintenance reduced by $47,400, a 3.7 percent decrease; Transportation reduced by $5,000, a 1.7 percent decrease; Food Service reduced by $5,500, a 4.2 percent decrease; and $15,000 to be determined.

The voters will elect two budget committee members on Tuesday as well as deciding on the administrative budget, one member for a two-year term and another for a three-year term.

Kerry Leeman, is a candidate for the three year term, and Robert Fairfield, Sr. is a candidate for the two year term.

The polls will be open from 10 a.m., until 8 p.m., at the Wiscasset Community Center, Tuesday, July 31. Absentee ballots are available at the town office.