Weare voters nix budgets for town, school and John Stark

Weare voters rejected the proposed operating budgets for both their town and local school district on Tuesday, as well as the budget for John Stark High School, overwhelming support for the budget in Henniker.

The John Stark decision reflected a persistent split in the two-town school district, where spending support from Henniker often faces off against opposition from Weare, which has about 50% more people. Henniker voters backed the John Stark operating budget, 409-231, but the Weare tally held sway, with 1,083 votes against and 603 in support.

Proposed teachers’ contracts followed a similar pattern, with proposals in Weare and at John Stark both falling short, while Henniker backed the contract proposal for the high school. Henniker voters easily passed a new teacher contract for their own elementary school.

In Weare, the proposed $21.37 million Weare School District budget, which covers the town’s elementary and middle schools, was defeated easily. The default budget of $21.05 million will go into effect for the next school year.

The two-year teachers contract for Weare, which would have cost an extra $384,000 in its first year, lost by a similar margin.

Weare voters also rejected the a $9.15 million operating budget for the town government, meaning that a $8.93 million default budget will instead go into effect.

Weare voters approved most town warrant articles but rejected a new police vehicle and proposals to turn part-time positions at the library and Highway Department into full-time positions. They also declined to pay for town fireworks.

In Henniker, an $11.2 million budget for the upcoming school year passed, 391-252.

The town operating budget will be voted on at traditional town meeting on Saturday.

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