[Updated] Third Time Not The Charm For East Windsor Budget Referendum

The third time was not the charm for the East Windsor budget.

Indeed, the third budget referendum - this one a proposed $34.84 million plan for 2013-14 calling for a 2 percent spending increase failed on Tuesday by another wide margin.

The final tally was closer than the other two, with 517 voting against, and 311 voting in favor. Just 11.5 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

The town charter mandates that, in light of the third referendum failure, a budget is automatically adopted reflecting a 2 percent increase.

The Board of Finance, immediately after the votes were tallied, convened and adopted a $34.84 million budget, with $20.57 million designated for the schools.

Even though the budget passed with a 2 percent spending increase with or without voters' approval at a referendum, there still were some differences in how the budget was allocated.

The referendum failure cost the school district $41,000, as the schools stood to get a 2.2 percent spending increase, while the town budget stood to have less of an increase.

The third referendum - like the two previous ones - cost the town $3,500.

Finance board Chairman Jason Bowsza said he was disappointed that the budget was not passed by voters, but that the finance board carried out its duties to the best of its collective ability.

The 2 percent spending increase pursuant to the town charter protects taxpayers from "egregious" spending, but also protects much-needed services delivered by the town, Bowsza said.

More than anything, what was disappointing was the misinformation spread throughout the budget process, Bowsza said.

"When people get their tax bills, no one is going to see a 20 to 25 percent increase," he said. "People were intentionally misled. We have struggled with that continuously."

Despite the 2 percent increase, the Board of Education on Wednesday is expected to make additional cuts to programming and personnel.