LYNDON, Vt. (WCAX) – Voters said no for a second time to school budgets in two more Vermont communities.
The Kingdom East School District budget failed on a revote Tuesday. The count was 318 in favor and 652 against.
The Caledonian Record reports that St. Johnsbury’s school budget also failed on a revote. We’re still waiting on the exact results from the district.
Nearly one-third of the Vermont communities that considered school budgets on Town Meeting Day rejected their spending plans, with concerns over runaway school budgets and big hikes in property taxes.
Since then, some school budgets have also failed on revotes, including in South Burlington and the Georgia Town School District.
The wave of failed school budgets has state lawmakers searching for ways to contain costs while maintaining educational equity. That includes renewed discussions about school consolidation, investing in community schools and searching for ways to make school budget votes more transparent.