Salem — Fewer than 200 residents came out to cast a vote during Wednesday's budget referendum, adopting a $15,501,899 municipal budget for fiscal year 2015-16 by a margin of 2 to 1.

The outcome was announced within 10 minutes of polls closing. With 116 votes cast in favor and 49 cast against the budget proposal, First Selectman Kevin Lyden noted that it was the lowest tally of "no" votes in recent memory.

"We usually have somewhere around 80 'no' votes," Lyden said.

Of the $15.5 million town budget, general government budget accounts for $3.62 million, capital projects account for $1.23 million and the Board of Education budget accounts for $10.64 million.

Lyden called the budget a fair one, and said the low voter turn out — just 165 in total — and low attendance of recent town meetings to discuss the budget, was reflective of the fact that residents were happy with the proposal.

Registrar of Voters Georgia Pech agreed.

“I do think (turnout) was abnormally low. I think part of that was because there didn’t seem to be any real issues. A lot of times if there isn’t a specific issue, people don’t feel they need to come out to vote for or against it,” Pech said.

Michael Flugrade was one Salem resident who did feel like coming out to vote, casting his ballot within five minutes of the polls closing.

“I got in under the wire,” Flugrade said as he entered Town Hall. After voting, he said he had not closely followed budget debates, but had attended the recent town budget meeting and likes to make an effort to vote.

“I live here and I think its important to let your voice be known,” he said.

j.hopper@theday.com

Twitter: @JessHoppa