Next week, the Fair Haven Select Board will get to work on a third municipal budget proposal for fiscal year 2014-2015. On Tuesday, voters defeated the town's $1,861,421 revised budget by just seven votes, with 203 voting in favor and 210 voting against.
In March, Fair Haven voters defeated a $1,908,559 budget proposal 216-267. Both proposals were less than the current $1,937,814 budget. Despite the lower bottom line, both proposals would have translated to a tax increase because the town used one-time carryover funds to decrease taxes in the current fiscal year.
Due to ballot warning requirements, Town Manager Herb Durfee said the earliest the town could hold another budget vote is mid-July. However, he said that timeline would require the Select Board to adopt and warn a new budget proposal at its meeting on Monday.
"It's highly unlikely that would happen," said Durfee.
Either way, the town will be entering a new fiscal year on July 1 without a budget.
