03-06-2025
Plainfield's second budget vote results: What happened?
Even with a total reduction of $800,000, all three questions on the ballot for the Town of Plainfield's budget vote failed to pass again at the referendum vote June 2.
This is the second time all three questions failed to pass at the ballot box. The majority of voters opposed all three questions at the referendum May 19.
At the budget vote June 2, the proposed $14,320,593 operating budget failed, with 563 yes votes and 717 no votes. The revised operating budget was $320,000 less than the proposed budget for the May 19 referendum, which was $14,640,593.
The proposed education budget was $39,327,822, a reduction of $480,00 from the May 19 budget failed June 2, with 625 yes votes and 654 no votes. The proposed education budget at the referendum was down from the $39,807,822 that was proposed for education at the budget vote May 19.
The town's Capital Improvement Plan for the next and ensuing five years also failed June 2, with 562 yes votes and 701 no votes.
'I think it's probably still a little too high,' Don Kivela, of Plainfield, said regarding the town's budget.
In addition to the questions on the proposed operating and education budgets as well as the Capital Improvement Plan, there was a non-binding advisory question on the ballot for the June 2 election.
The question asked voters if they were in favor of having a proposed municipal solid waste to energy plant in Plainfield. The vast majority were opposed to the project, as 125 voted yes and 1,148 voted no.
The public hearing on the revised budget will take place June 9 in the auditorium at Plainfield High School.
The next budget referendum will be held June 16. The town is working out a polling place, as work to replace the entrance ramp at Plainfield Town Hall begins June 3. Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Plainfield's second round of budgets fail at the ballot box
