Wiscasset voters will decide on a proposed $1.7 million school energy project when they consider the 2017-18 budget in June. School officials had requested an April 25 special election.

Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot told selectmen Tuesday night, by waiting the school department risked losing close to $90,000 in Efficiency Maine rebates.

But selectmen feared an April vote would draw a low turnout. Selectman Jeff Slack said he fully supported the project. “I just think we’d get a better turnout by holding the vote in June.”

Wilmot said if an April vote was held, she would do all she could to promote it. She said the school department’s community network could reach 1,000 people.

“I’ve been a selectman here 27 years and I can tell you a special town meeting will never get anywhere near the voter turnout. I’ve got to tell you honestly, I’m not keen on the idea of $1.7 million being decided by a small number of voters,” Selectman Larry Gordon said.

Chairman Judy Colby said for her it was simply a matter of giving as many taxpayers as possible the opportunity to vote. “We had a 14 percent tax increase this past year. I’m expecting a large turnout in June.”

Selectmen voted 4-1, Slack dissenting, to include the question as part of the annual election.

Colby told the Wiscasset Newspaper afterward, she hopes the school department will consider a bond rather than a lease purchase-agreement. “I think they’d get a better interest rate.”

The school committee had considered financing the project over 16 years either through a tax-exempt lease-purchase agreement or a general obligation bond administered by selectmen. Wimot said the school department had received three interest rates, but two had since expired; the third was at 3.8 percent.

Wilmot told selectmen she will present the 2017-18 school budget to the school committee March 23.

Following a public hearing, selectmen unanimously voted to renew a liquor license for Sarah’s Café & Twin Schooners Pub at the corner of Main and Water streets.

Town Manager Marian Anderson said repairs to correct an oil leak in an ambulance ran less than $500, much less than anticipated. Freedom Auto Care of Boothbay did the work and completed it March 2.

Town Planner Ben Averill said he’d been in contact with several parties interested in renting space at Wiscasset Municipal Airport but hadn’t found a suitable tenant. The rental space is advertised on the town website and on Craigslist.

Pam Logan of Fort Hill Street encouraged selectmen to consider budgeting money for upkeep and repairs to the town clock and belfry. Selectmen said an article is be included on the June warrant.

The town office received a letter containing an early postcard of Wiscasset showing the original timber pile bridge linking the town with Davis Island. The postcard was from Lowell Joerg, 88, of Stockton, California. “I was in an antique store here and found this circa 1920 picture card of your beautiful area.,” he wrote. “I like to call my little hobby a ‘re-distribution of happiness.’ Our world sure needs it.”

Selectmen will meet at 5 p.m. March 13 to review the 2017-18 capital improvement plan. On March 14 at 5 p.m., a budget workshop is scheduled.

Slack, Gordon and Anderson will interview three auditing firms next week.