PRESTON VOTERS REJECT $3.84 MILLION CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN

Preston — Residents narrowly defeated a $3.84 million capital spending plan that includes purchases of firetrucks, school buses, snow plows and other equipment over the next five years, along with building improvements to the town’s two schools.

Voters rejected the spending plan, presented in one question, 165 to 151, a 10 percent turnout of eligible voters.

The results disappointed town officials, but First Selectman Robert Congdon said he can understand voters’ angst, given that the state has no budget and the town faces possibly losing $2.7 million in state grants from last year if Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s executive order curtailing spending remains in place throughout the fiscal year.

Board of Finance Chairman Norman Gauthier said all items on the proposed capital plan are “essential,” including replacing aging firetrucks, plow trucks and school buses. The Board of Education two years ago considered a controversial plan to outsource school bus transportation and met with strong opposition from parents, leading the board to reject the concept. That left the town with the need to replace 11 large buses and three smaller vans over the next five years.

“Everything on that list was essential,” Gauthier said. “We’ll be back to do this again, especially the school buses.”

Gauthier said it would be up to the full Board of Finance to decide how to make the request again, suggesting perhaps splitting the capital plan into separate questions for the school expenses and the town Public Works Department trucks and equipment.

A second referendum might not be held until after the Nov. 7 municipal election. Town officials hope a state budget is in place by then.