Mattapoisett Town Meeting voters approved the town’s $24,696,873 budget, but not before discussing its portion of Old Rochester Regional’s budget, totaling $5,785,759.

At the start of the meeting, Finance Committee Chair Pat Donohue expressed her disappointment with ORR’s budget, which the town shares with Marion and Rochester.

“I think over time they have developed some serious financial deficiencies,” she said, citing seven percent increases in health care over the past five years and the depletion of emergency reserves.

Donohue also said the school choice program was concerning as ORR receives only $5,000 for every out of district student allowed to attend the school, while the cost is almost three times that.

ORR School Committee member Cindy Johnson took issue with some of Donohue’s comments, saying the district has reduced the number of school choice slots in the past three years but that it is a worthwhile program.

“I believe that as well as the value of $5,000 per student there is also the non-monetary value of having a diverse student body,” she said.

Johnson also said the $15,000 cost per student was “misleading” as there are static costs such as building maintenance.

The topic of staffing was also discussed as requests for a social worker and art teacher were not granted.

Theresa Hadley said she was surprised the high school had only one art teacher versus at least three at similar high schools in the area.

“We are only able to rotate art classes and absolutely not meet the needs of the students. We are not operating on the same plane as other towns,” she said, lamenting the lack of graphic design classes as well.

Selectman Paul Silva said Mattapoisett did look to support several of the positions requested by the ORR School Committee as well as attempt to fund the multimillion dollar retirement benefits liability, but they were out voted by Marion and Rochester.

“My suggestion is you need to work with other communities if you’re going to get this changed,” said Silva.

The budget passed unanimously.