07/22/08 (results officiated 07/22/08)
School budget validation fails
a second time
For the second time, Cape Elizabeth voters defeated a proposed school budget
for 2008-09.
In a special validation referendum July 22, a $19.9 million budget adopted
by the Town Council on July 14 was narrowly defeated by a vote of 1,141 against
to 1,097 in favor. The difference was 44 votes.
The budget would have increased school spending next year by 6 percent.
In a second, advisory vote, the majority who answered the question, 1,158,
said the adopted budget was too high. A total of 603 said it was too low.
It was the second budget validation vote held in Cape Elizabeth this summer,
after a first budget of $19.7 million failed at the polls June 10. That budget
posed an increase in school spending of 4.6 percent.
The voter referendum is mandated by the state's new school consolidation
law. "We're going again," said Town Clerk Ruth Noble, reporting the election
results. The new law requires school units to hold validation votes until
a school budget passes.
Noble reported the total number of ballots cast to be 2,249, for a turnout
of approximately 30 percent.
Here are the results of the July 22 school budget validation referendum:
Do you favor approving the Town of Cape Elizabeth school budget for the upcoming
school year that was adopted at the latest school budget meeting of the town
council?
YES 1,097
NO 1,141
Advisory Question of Cape Elizabeth School Budget:
The following is a non-binding expression of opinion for the consideration
of the School Board and Town Council.
I find the school budget adopted at the July 14, 2008 Town Council’s
school budget meeting to be:
TOO HIGH 1,158
TOO LOW 603
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