Salem — Residents voted Wednesday to approve the 2016-17 budget of $15.3 million by a vote of 153 to 60.

The $15,264,132 budget is a 1.53 percent decrease from 2015-16.

Republican Registrar of Voters Georgia Pech said in advance of the referendum that she did not expect a significant voter turnout because few people had questions at the town meeting on May 4. The total turnout this year was 213 people.

The 2015-16 budget referendum also had a low turnout, with only 165 residents voting.

The ballot also included advisory questions for the Board of Finance on whether the general government and school board budgets were too high, too low or about right. For the general government and capital expenditures, which totaled $4,565,907, 65 percent of voters said it was about right. Almost half of voters said the Board of Education budget of $10,698,225, a 0.5 percent increase from 2015-16, was too high.

First Selectman Kevin Lyden said he was pleased to have a finalized budget.

"People are still gracious and passed the budget by a considerable margin," he said.