Salem — With what election workers called one of the lowest turnouts in years, residents voted by a wide margin Wednesday to approve the 2018-2019 proposed budget.

A total of 183 people voted in the referendum, with 159 votes for the budget and 24 votes against. The total was significantly less than previous years; last year's turnout was 215 voters.

The $14,989,478 town budget included $895,974 for the capital budget, $3.77 million for the general government budget and $10.32 million for the Board of Education. Overall it is a .53 percent decrease from the 2017-2018 budget, with major decreases coming from decreased tuition costs for special education and fewer freshmen attending East Lyme High School next year.

Both the public hearing in April and the town meeting in May were conducted quickly and with little public comment, and town officials at both meetings gave credit to the boards and commissions for developing a fiscally responsible budget.

"We've got a great team here in town," First Selectman Kevin Lyden said.

The referendum also included two advisory questions regarding whether residents thought the general government, capital and school budgets were too high, too low or just right. Most residents felt the general government and capital budgets were just right, with 9 saying it was too low and 32 saying it was too high. Opinions on the school budget were more split, with 87 saying it was just right, 23 saying it was too low and 68 saying it was too high.

The Board of Finance will set the mill rate at its meeting Thursday night.