Low Turnout of Monroe Voters Reject 2014-15 Budget Proposal

Monroe residents and property owners voting in Tuesday’s referendum defeated the first proposed 2014-15 budget by a margin of 229.

The unofficial count Tuesday night was 1,347 “yes” to 1,576 “no.”

Town Clerk Marsha Motter Beno noted that voter turnout was surprising low at 24.96 percent.

“Usually we have over 30 percent, often 33-35 percent,” she said Tuesday night. “It’s very unusual to have this low of a turnout.”

With the proposal failing to pass, the budget goes back to First Selectman Steve Vavrek, who has a couple weeks to consult with the Board of Finance and Board of Education before making a revised proposal available to the public.

By charter, a second referendum must be scheduled within 3 weeks of Tuesday’s vote.