Voters Nix Bond Measures

North Kingstown voters rejected two bond measures while authorizing the sale of a vacant school in a referendum where turnout was low.

Last Tuesday, voters turned down by a 1,076 to 646 margin a $3.85 million bond authorization to renovate the Wickford Elementary School site and convert it into offices for the town and school administration, according to the Providence Journal.

With interest, the bond would have cost $5.9 million over 20 years, the newspaper reported, and the tax rate would have risen by 10 cents per thousand during the first three years of repayment.

By a 946 to 766 margin, voters allowed the Town Council to sell the school, which closed in 2006.

Separately, voters rejected an $850,000 bond issue to pay for artificial turf and other improvements to McGinn Park, a town athletic field. That vote was 1,281 to 437.

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Rhode Island
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