Salem — Residents voted Wednesday to approve the $15.1 million budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

The $15,069,851 budget, which was adjourned to a referendum from a May 3 town meeting, is a 1.27 percent decrease from this year's spending plan.

A total of 215 people cast ballots for the referendum, with 169 voters approving the budget and 46 rejecting it.

The turnout was on par with last year's vote, with 213 ballots cast in a 153-60 split. Several town officials awaiting the final tally, including members of the finance and education boards and First Selectman Kevin Lyden, attributed the low turnout to an overall satisfaction with the budget. They also credited the town departments and boards for trimming expenses in the face of state budget uncertainty.

In addition to the budget vote, the ballot included two advisory questions assessing residents' opinion on the school budget and the town budget and capital expenditures. Nearly three-quarters of voters said the town budget and capital expenditures were about right.

Voters were evenly divided on whether the school budget is too low, too high or just right. The 2017-18 school budget is $10,548,225, a 1.4 percent decrease.

The Board of Finance will approve the 2017-18 mill rate at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.