ABINGTON — May 16 — In a dramatic conclusion to the town’s fiscal showdown, Abington voters utilized their “menu” ballots on Saturday, May 16, to approve six out of seven departmental funding overrides. The split outcome spared the town’s schools and public safety departments from devastating cuts, but leaves the central municipal government facing immediate reductions.
Voters overwhelmingly supported the community’s first responders and community services. The Fire Department question passed with the widest margin of the day, securing 1,511 “Yes” votes to just 943 “No” votes. The Council on Aging (1,480 to 966), Police Department (1,415 to 1,039), and the Library (1,403 to 1,040) also saw comfortable victories.
The races for education and infrastructure were far closer. The School Department’s massive $1.76 million request survived by just 101 votes, passing 1,279 to 1,178. Meanwhile, funding for the Department of Public Works squeaked by with a razor-thin 24-vote margin, with 1,236 in favor and 1,212 opposed.
The sole casualty of the menu override was Question 7: Town Hall, which failed decisively with 1,054 “Yes” votes to 1,388 “No” votes.
Because of the “à la carte” nature of the election, the passed amounts will be added together to permanently increase the town’s tax levy limit. However, the failure of Question 7 means that starting July 1, the town will have to absorb reductions in the Town Manager, Clerk, Assessors, IT, and Health offices, which officials previously warned could result in mid-day closures of Town Hall.