The Old Rochester Regional School Committee voted to approve a $16,567,900 budget for the junior high and high school on Wednesday night.

The budget is less than that discussed at the March 4 public hearing because the state Department of Revenue and Department of Education said "school choice" money  –payments received as the result of educating out-of-town students under the state's school choice program – should be in its own separate account used to offset the budget.

Superintendent Doug White said the change would not alter the amount that the towns are asked to pay at their respective Town Meetings.

White also said he received good news from the state on Wednesday with the Legislature agreeing that it would not let state aid to cities and towns fall below the level currently in the governor’s proposed budget.

“That puts us in a much better space than we were a year ago as we were having this conversation,” said White.

Additional help for the budget could come from a new bus contract that has yet to go out to bid and health care costs.