Voters says 'no' to override all override questions
By Caitlyn Kelleher

Westminster residents (l. to r.) Keith Harding, an opponent of the pending override, and Josh Schonborg, a proponent of the override, stand at the intersection of Main and South streets to encourage residents to vote during the election Tuesday.

More than 55 percent of voters in both Ashburnham and Westminster voted "no" to a proposed override of Proposition 2 ½ to fund $1.2 million of the school operating budget.

"I'm shocked," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis, who was at Westminster Elementary School when the results of the voters were announced.

Zapantis, School Committee members and proponents have spent the last month trying to convenience voters to support the $1.2 million override that would have funded part of the district's operating budget.

In Westminster, the vote for $729,309 broke down to 55 percent - 736 votes - against the override and 45 percent - 596 - in favor.

In Ashburnham, the vote for $498,603 broke down to 57 percent - 621 votes - against the override and 43 percent - 467 votes - in favor.

Many School Committee members waited at the polls Tuesday night for election returns and had flashbacks to the early part of the decade when the district went through a number of failed override attempts.

"Here we go again," said School Committee member Leonard Beaton, of Westminster.

After the ballot results were announced, School Committee members were focusing on the possible effects on the 2,400 students in the district, the possible layoffs and the reductions of supplies. The School Committee was going to review possible budget reductions during their meeting on Wednesday night at Overlook Middle School.

Many School Committee members echoed the feelings of disappoint and said "it was going to be a rough year." Committee members weren't immediately sure where the reduction of $1.2 million of budget would come from.

"I thought people would see a transparent budget," said Ellen Holmes, a School Committee member. "It was less than was absolutely needed in the district."

Beaton said part of the hard time passing an override is the fact it raises property taxes.

"The hard part with an override is affordability. It's a tough sell when you don't have it," he said.

Beaton and Holmes agreed they need to look to the state to get more funding in the upcoming years in order to help offset some of the costs of federal and state mandates.

Voters also rejected the second year of the capital improvement budget, which town and school officials agreed should be funded every year with one-year capital exclusions of Proposition 2 ½ for $150,000 per town.

In Westminster voters rejected the proposal 752-576 - 56 percent to 43 percent - and in Ashburnham voters rejected the proposal 462-626 - 57 percent to 42 percent.

The capital project list for the upcoming fiscal year includes items such as new computers, replacement desk and other repairs around the school buildings.

In Ashburnham voters also rejected a proposed debt exclusion to override Proposition 2 ½ to fund an additional $170,000 for road repairs in town.

The vote failed by 18 votes in a spread of 49 percent to 51 percent.

"I thought people

would see a transparent budget."

- ELLEN HOLMES SCHOOL COMMITTEE