Jefferson voters, June 4, defeated a measure to approve the town’s 2013-2014 education budget by a vote of 66 to 83.
Only 149 of approximately 1900 registered voters participated in the secret ballot referendum designed to validate a decision made a May 21 special town meeting. The May 21 meeting was attended by approximately 88 citizens, according to Town Clerk Lynne Barnikow.
At the May meeting the total budget of $5,137,521 passed as did remaining articles calling for an appropriation of $2,818,225 to pay the town’s share and those for food service and adult education.
The Alternative Organizational Structure 93 budget would have increased Jefferson’s local contribution by $215,761 to a total local share of $3,412,474.
AOS 93 Superintendent Steve Bailey said June 5 the Jefferson School Committee would meet to “consider what our next steps are. Was the budget too low, was the budget too high?”
He said approximately a third of those at the May 21 meeting wanted to add positions back into the budget, with an equal segment calling for reductions.
Citizens at the May 21 meeting questioned whether the school could operate well with the proposed reductions in staff.
Barnikow said the school committee would need to meet with the Jefferson Budget Committee prior to holding another open town meeting and secret referendum validation vote. The meetings and votes would need to take place within 45 days of the June 4 budget rejection vote.
Bailey said a second decision made June 4, to continue the process that calls for a secret ballot budget validation vote, was final and will remain in effect for at least three years, at which time the town may revisit that decision. That article passed 98-51.
For more information about the budget and the Jefferson School Committee call the AOS 93 Central Office at 563-3044. The Jefferson Town Office can be reached at 549-7401.
