WESTHAMPTON — Voters rejected a $125,000 Proposition 2½ override by 16 votes at Saturday’s annual town election, marking the second override proposal to fail this year after a $500,000 request was defeated in April.
The override failed in a 305-289 vote, according to unofficial election results. The April override failed in a 373-314 vote, a 59-vote margin. Officials hoped the lesser override amount would have closed the gap to help maintain services.
In other election results, many incumbents on several boards and committees reclaimed their seats on Saturday as none faced challengers.
“I had cautious optimism that it would pass,” said Select Board Chair Susan Bronstein. “We were so clear about what the override was for and I think they were reasonable and important things.”
The services that town officials said the $125,000 would have covered include a vacant Highway Department road worker position, and a music teacher, a custodian and funding for supplies and maintenance at the Westhampton Elementary School, which are now at risk after the override failed.
Bronstein said it is up to the Finance Committee to decide whether to make those proposed cuts official. The committee met on Monday and Bronstein said the Select Board will also be discussing the results.
However, voters approved the fiscal year 2027 budget during the first session of annual Town Meeting in May based on the assumption that the override would pass, meaning officials will need to revise the spending plan when Town Meeting reconvenes June 22.
There are four remaining articles on the continued warrant, one that would authorize the purchase of a new police vehicle. The others would allow the town to fund Westhampton’s 250th birthday celebration in 2028, with the final two related to financial decisions.
“We tried at Town Meeting to be clear (the override) was for two very specific and important reasons,” Bronstein said, adding that one resident tried to raise the override amount at the meeting. “We tried to make it as low as possible.”
The average single-family home value for the current fiscal year 2026 is approximately $351,000, based on figures from the state Division of Local Services. If the override had passed, it would have raised property taxes approximately $150 a year for a home of that value.
“Trust me I get it, things are expensive and life is financially precarious these days,” Bronstein said. “Gas is expensive, oil is expensive, who knows what is going to be expensive tomorrow.”
While residents are feeling the cost increases, Bronstein said cities and towns are as well. As the Select Board chair, she has been learning more about and advocating for potential changes to state formulas that fund municipalities, in hopes to bring more money into local communities.
“The state is looking at redoing the rural policy — the formulas are bad,” Bronstein said. “I’ve been very loud about that at every opportunity I’ve had. I don’t know what else to do.”
