A special election for a new school budget will take place on July 25 at the usual polling places. On June 13, just under 10% of Gorham’s 15,623 registered voters turned out to defeat the FY 24 School budget by a vote of 956 to 660. Rejection of the $51.5 million dollar budget will require the School Department, School Committee, and the Town Council to approve a new budget before it can be voted at the July 25 special election.

“While the results of the referendum vote were not what we hoped for,” Superintendent Heather Perry said, “we trust our budget approval process.” She called for continuing a community conversation that finds “a balance between meeting the costs needed to support the education of our community’s children while also meeting the needs of our community’s taxpayers. We have full faith that these conversations will continue with respectful and civil discourse and that ultimately an appropriate balance will be found. We are already working collaboratively with the Town Council to determine next steps.”

The proposed $1.31 increase on the mil would have been a $360 tax increase on a house assessed at $350,000.

This 11% increase combined with last year’s reevaluation was a “double whammy,” said Gorham resident David Alexander. “The vast majority of Gorham homeowners don’t have kids in the schools and voting this budget down was our only recourse.”

“As a parent of two school children and a former school employee,” Abigail McGuire said,” I know how important and delicate these matters are for all, but the School Committee does not ask for what it doesn’t need. We all know the cost of living and higher taxes impacts us as Gorham residents. We must recognize that these factors impact the school budget as well.”