Published on June 10, 2008

• Click here for school budget validation results

• Click here for primary, referundum results (Cape Elizabeth results only)

The school budget adopted by the Town Council on May 27 failed to pass a townwide validation vote June 10, with the majority of voters saying they believe the budget is too low.

Unofficial results Tuesday evening showed 1,891 voters rejecting the $19.7 million budget adopted last month by the council, compared to 1,250 voting for the budget.

In an advisory vote related to the budget question, the majority, 1,638, said they believed the budget set for approval is too low. A total of 1,110 said they believed it was too high.

In other election news, Cape Elizabeth Democrats showed a clear preference for current Congressman Tom Allen to face Susan Collins for U.S. Senate in the November election, with 1,453 voting for Allen, and 143 voting for challenger Thomas Ledue. (results official as of June 12, 2008)

The six-way race for the Democratic nomination to replace Allen in Congress showed Chellie Pingree to be the favorite of Cape Elizabeth primary voters. Pingree won 707 votes among Cape Democrats, followed by Adam Cote, 442; Michael Brennan, 271; Ethan Strimling, 160; Mark Lawrence, 26; and Stephen Meister, 21.

In the Republican primary, Cape Elizabeth voted overwhelmingly for Scarborough's Charlie Summers to be the Republican nominee for Congress.

At 10:30 Election Night, workers were still completing talleys had yet to report results of the state referendum bond issue for natural resources, agricultural and transportation infrastructure. The Cape election attracted 3,203 voters, Noble said, a turnout of more than 42 percent.

Here are the unofficial election results:

School Budget Validation Questions:

Do you favor approving the Cape Elizabeth budget for the upcoming school year that was adopted at the latest Town Council school budget meeting held May 27, 2008 and that includes locally raised funds that exceed the required local contribution as described in the Essential Programs and Services Fund Act?

1250 Yes
1891 No

A YES vote allows additional funds to be raised for K-12 public education.

A NO vote means additional funds cannot be raised for K-12 public education.

ADVISORY QUESTION OF CAPE ELIZABETH SCHOOL BUDGET:

The following is a non-binding expression of opinion for the consideration of the School Board and Town Council.

I find the school budget adopted at the May 27, 2008 Town Council's school budget meeting to be:

1110 TOO HIGH
1638 TOO LOW

State of Maine Referendum Question 1 (Cape Elizabeth results only)

Question 1: Bond Issue

• Do you favor a $29,725,000 bond issue for natural resources, agricultural and transportation infrastructure that will leverage $29,780,000 in other funds?
  YES – 2128
  No – 932
  (result official for this question, 6/11/08)

Previous story:

• Town Council adopts budget; school spending increase of 4.6 percent will go to citizen vote (05/28/08)