NEW SALEM — Voters shot down a Proposition 2½ override on Monday, meaning a more bare-bones budget will be sent to Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 11.
Residents voted 178-159 to reject the lone ballot question and will now vote on a $3.7 million fiscal year 2027 budget next week at Town Meeting. Townspeople were asked if the town should be allowed to assess an additional $185,500 in real estate and personal property taxes for various expenses for the fiscal year beginning July 1. State law requires voter approval before a municipality can increase its property tax levy by more than 2.5%.
The money would have funded legal expenses, cellphones, the Highway Department, insurance, the library, Old Home Day festivities, technology, the tree warden, town repairs, the Police Department, the Fire Department and Swift River School.
Town Coordinator Emily Hill previously said the override has been a hotly debated topic in town that could cost a taxpayer an additional $300 per year, if approved.
The bare-bones $3.7 million budget going to Annual Town Meeting is $166,328 higher than that of the current fiscal year.
There were no surprises in the ballot races, as all were uncontested.
- Selectboard, three-year term — Carl Seppala, 257 votes.
- Board of Health, three-year term — Patrick Temple, 270 votes.
- Planning Board, five-year term — Felicia Curtis, four votes (write-in).
- Assessor, three-year term — William Lafley, 272 votes.
- Swift River School Committee, two seats with three-year terms — Molly Rapp, 255, and Nancy Slator, 253 votes.
- Library trustee, three-year term — Mailande DeWitt, 43 votes (write-in).
- Library trustee, two-year term — Jean Derderian, nine votes (write-in).
- Municipal Light Board, three-year term — Cameron Dunbar, 273 votes.
New Salem saw a 37% voter turnout, with 337 of the 910 registered voters showing up to the polls at 24 North Main St.
