Residents on Tuesday approved the $35 million Regional School Unit 21 budget by a vote of 967 to 589.

Voters also agreed the validation process should continue for three more years.

“Obviously I’m encouraged and relieved at the same time. We knew it was a difficult budget to pass,” said Superintendent Andrew Dolloff.

Dolloff said the budget was particularly difficult this year because it was the first budget year for the new consolidated district and impacted the tax base, especially in Arundel, which has a large tax increase this year.

The budget did not pass in Arundel, where 110 of 193 voters opposed the measure.

“(The budget) generates a larger increase (in taxes) this year – we anticipated that would impact the vote,” Dolloff said. “There was concern in other communities as well because of the current cost-sharing discussion.”

The cost-sharing discussion deals with a possible problem in the district charter that determines how debt is split between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport.

Dolloff said he was concerned whether the budget would pass and said next year the impact will be more in line with smaller tax increases of previous years.

The second part of the ballot asked voters if they wanted to continue a two-step voting process with a budget validation town-meeting style vote followed by a ballot vote. The article passed with 64 percent of the total vote. All three communities approved the article.

RSU 21’s new budget is effective July 1.

Alleged assailant denied bail

A Kennebunk man pleaded not guilty last Friday in York County Superior Court to charges related to the alleged assault of a family member and an alleged burglary of the Saco Mini Mart.

Dale Griffth, 40, is charged with aggravated assault, criminal threatening, burglary and two counts of violating bail conditions for contact with the alleged victim and possession of a knife.

Judge Paul A. Fritzsche denied bail on all cases, subject to review, because Griffith has two more pending cases from early April. Griffith allegedly committed theft and failed to appear at York County Jail to serve a six-month sentence.

Griffith currently is serving that sentence, which stems from a Feb. 19 conviction for operating after habitual offender revocation for – driving with a suspended license multiple times.

Griffith’s bail was revoked and arrest warrants were sent to local law enforcement officers after he failed to appear at the courthouse March 26, According to York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence.

Kennebunk police arrested Griffith on April 20 on three warrants, including one for theft by unauthorized taking stemming from an alleged April 13 purse snatching at Garden Street Market, for failing to report for a jail sentence and for violating bail conditions stemming from an alleged Jan. 22 burglary of the Saco Mini Mart.

Griffith will continue serving his sentence at the jail, but will return to court June 25 for his initial appearance for alleged theft and failure to report to jail.

– Compiled by Suzanne Hodgson