For the first time in at least three years, Oxford residents rejected both the town and school budgets in a referendum Tuesday.
“I’m sure the economy had a lot to do with it,” said finance board chairwoman Lila Ferrillo after the votes were counted off about 8:15 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Quaker Farms School.
Voter turnout — roughly 12 percent of the town’s approximate 8,300 eligible voters cast ballots — was also low.
The Results
The $13.6 million town budget was rejected 580 “no” votes to 416 “yes” voted.
The $26.3 million school budget was rejected 667 – 329.
Voters approved spending $98,130 to pave roads by 571 – 419 vote.
What’s Next?
Now the town’s finance board will have to decide how much to trim before sending the spending plans to voters again.
The finance board is scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.
Reaction
School Board chairwoman Rose McKinnon said the low turnout and the budget rejection were disappointing.
She said the school board may be forced to look at staff reductions in order to bring in a smaller budget.
Republican Selectman David Yish said it is going to be hard to find things to cut on the town side of the budget.
Click the video to hear him discuss the budget.
“It’s going to be difficult to find the cuts at this point,” Yish said. “We’ve already asked everything we could ask of the town employees. The union as well as the non-union employees are at a zero-percent increase this year.”
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers, a Democrat, said $50,000 could be trimmed from the town budget — “substantially more” needs to be trimmed from the school budget in order to pass muster with voters.
Drayton-Rogers was not pleased with the budget the Board of Finance put out to voters. The First Selectwoman said the finance board didn’t take steps to scale back school spending — and added spending to the town side of the budget.
“They failed to listen to my statement that additional cuts could be made,” Drayton-Rogers said.
