Andover voters reject budget of nearly $13M

May 19—ANDOVER — The 2022-23 fiscal year will have to wait a little longer to get an approved budget in the Town of Andover.

The budget of $12,891,223 was rejected by voters by a vote of 220 against it to 193 in favor of it at a referendum held on Tuesday night.

The general government portion of the budget totaled $ 3,761,499, an increase of 10.56% over the current year's spending. The budget also included a capital improvement plan of $2,689,999, an increase of 8.77% from the 2021-22 plan.

The town's share of regional education costs for middle and high school students who attend RHAM Junior/Senior High School and other magnet or vocational schools is $ 5,026,937, a decrease of 1.81% from this year's levy. That figure is a fixed part of the town budget as the district budget was approved at a regional referendum on May 3.

The local education costs for elementary school students totaled $ 4,102,787, with an increase of 5.13% over current expenditures.

Andover Elementary School Superintendent Valerie Bruneau said after the polls closed on Tuesday that she was upset the budget failed, as the proposal was already as lean as possible.

" I'm disappointed because it was a fiscally responsible and academically sound budget," Bruneau said. " There wasn't an increase for any other reason except for unavoidable costs."

The increase, Bruneau said, is due to the rising cost of fuel, outsourced tuition expenses and contractual obligations. " These were unavoidable. There is nothing else to cut."

The Board of Finance will now hold a meeting to make any revisions to the budget draft, and the Board of Selectmen will set a special town meeting for townspeople to review it before sending it to a vote.