REHOBOTH — It’s back to the drawing board for Rehoboth.

By an overwhelming margin, voters yesterday did not agree to exceed the state’s Proposition 2½ mandate. The Massachusetts law limits how much taxes can be raised from one year to the next.

Thirty-seven percent, or 2,612 residents, of the town’s registered voters cast ballots. Town Clerk Kathleen Conti said a 30-percent turnout was good and 40 percent would be high, given the month and accounting for vacations. Residents were asked two years ago to exceed the override, and 33 percent came out to the polls. The majority then also rejected the override.

Of those participating yesterday, 72 percent (1,878 residents) opposed the override and about 28 percent (716 residents) were in favor.

The additional $471,211 would have been primarily used to restore positions at Rehoboth middle and elementary schools. Another $25,000 would also have been directed to the Rehoboth Agricultural and Natural Resources Preservation Trust Fund, which is used primarily to buy land to protect the town’s rural and open space from developers.

“It’s not unexpected, but I’m disappointed,” School Committee member Richard S. Barrett said. “I really expected the townspeople to support the schools.”

Resident Irene Burt, of Winthrop Street, said after casting her nay vote, “The School Committee needs to do a line budget just like every other department and tell us why they need more money.”

Yet the taxpayers approved an operating budget that exceeded the cap at the Annual Town Meeting three months ago. The Finance Committee then presented a town operating budget that didn’t exceed the levy limit. The committee gave a $524,000 increase over last year’s town allocation for the schools. The total amount toward the district’s operating expenses would have been $11.22 million if approved.

The amount approved was $11.67 million, or $446,211 over what the Finance Committee was recommending the district receive. A subsequent approval yesterday was needed for additional money to restore the 11 positions at Beckwith Middle and Palmer River Elementary schools.

“I understand a tight budget, but our children’s education should be top priority,” said resident Cindy Rourke, of Pine Grove Road. She is a teacher in Mansfield that voted in favor of the override.

Resident Michael Downey of Rocky Hill Road, who also agreed, said, “I think the schools are terribly under funded. We [Rehoboth] spend the least per capita in all of Massachusetts and that’s unfair to the children.”

An 85-year-old resident from the same street as Downey opposed. Wanda Swanson said her reason for her vote was because she didn’t want her taxes to go up, and she didn’t have any children in the school system.

Deborah Leonardo, of Lake Street, also didn’t want her taxes to go up. Yet she said, “I feel bad voting no because my sister has two little ones and they say the classes will get smaller [with the override], but I don’t see that happening. If they’re going to increase our taxes they should at least give us trash pickup, or some other amenities.”

Taxpayers will now have to return to a special Town Meeting to redistribute the money, without exceeding the cap. Rehoboth’s entire operating budget will be revisited and all its departments’ costs will be reviewed. The meeting could be set by the Board of Selectmen as early as Monday, when the selectmen meet at 7:30 p.m. at the town Senior Center, 55 Bay State Rd.

cthompson@projo.com