Bethel Municipal Budget Fails Third Try at Referendum [UPDATED]

Bethel voters denied the 2014-15 municipal spending request for a third time Thursday, defeating the $26.8 million proposal by a vote of 1,354-1,318.

The 36-vote margin clears the 0.5 percent theshold for a recount.

Because the town will fail to adopt a budget by the start of the new fiscal year, Tuesday, July 1, the town will revert to the 2013-14 budget on a month-to-month basis until a budget is approved.

The unofficial tally Tuesday night from all five districts and absentee voting:

District 1
Yes: 122
No: 153
Too High: 173
Too Low: 67

District 2
Yes: 317
No: 297
Too High: 378
Too Low: 179

District 3
Yes: 514
No: 474
Too High: 602
Too Low: 262

District 4
Yes: 256
No: 336
Too High: 388
Too Low: 156

District 5
Yes: 71
No: 71
Too High: 91
Too Low: 39

Absentee
Yes: 38
No: 23
Too High: 30
Too Low: 22