At Annual Town Meeting last Saturday and at the polls Tuesday, voters supported the fiscal year 2008 blueprint for spending on schools, town departments, affordable housing, historic preservation, and land conservation presented in the $18,604,612 omnibus budget and warrant articles. The $650,000 override—Question 1 on the ballot—passed 964 votes to 736, making possible a number of plans already assumed in the budget, such as hiring new math, science, and special education teachers. A $113,500 second override—Question 2 on the ballot—passed 891–810 and allows the schools to take part in the Virtual High School program; add another math teacher, tutor, and special education administrative support; and keep a sixth bus running for the elementary school.
The only financial articles that did not pass were a $140,000 capital outlay for a new Department of Public Works truck and $25,000 for a special education audit entered by citizens’ petition.
