Aquinnah Voters Back $375,000 Override

<p>Aquinnah voters approved a $375,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override and re-elected selectman Gary Haley to another three-year term at the annual town election Wednesday. The override was approved 72-41, allowing the town to balance its budget in a year when finances are tight.

Aquinnah voters approved a $375,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override and re-elected selectman Gary Haley to another three-year term at the annual town election Wednesday.

A total of 117 voters out of 366 registered turned out to cast ballots by hand in the town’s century-old box.

The override was approved 72-41, allowing the town to balance its budget in a year when finances are tight. Education spending is the main driver for the added tax burden, with more students due to attend public schools from Aquinnah in the coming year.

Selectman Gary Haley, who said the finance committee has worked tirelessly to lower the override since January, was happy with the outcome.

“We’re pleased with the result,” Mr. Haley said after the votes were counted Wednesday night. “It came out favorable to the town. We’re thankful that it passed, so we can move on to other things now.”

In the town’s only contested race, Gerald Green defeated Elaine Vogel-Vanderhoop to win a seat on the board of health. The vote was 65-44.

“I’ve been coming to the town for many years, and recently moved here full time and wanted to make a contribution,” Mr. Green said. “The thing I know most about is health and health care, and I thought this would be the best way for me to make a positive contribution to the town.”

In uncontested races, Michael Hebert was re-elected as town moderator, Thomas Murphy, Jo-Ann Eccher and James Mahoney were elected to the planning board, and Heidi Vanderhoop was elected as library trustee and constable.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 22:35

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Mark Edgartown

I hope everyone is reminded of the potential for overrides next time the housing bank tries to grab funds from the rental tax.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/17/2019 - 16:55

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Downislander Edgartown

Stop with the scare tactics. No one is trying to “grab funds”. Those funds aren’t even there yet. The island affordable housing committees need to stop acting like they own this money already. The residents decided that they want the towns to study it further, it may work, it may not. But please stop acting like the Housing Bank folks are the enemy here.

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