Rindge will once again be operating under a default budget after voters on Tuesday turned down the proposed budget, 707-824.

The proposed budget was set at $5.81 million this year, with the default, which will now go into effect, at $5.64 million.

During the town’s deliberative session in February, voters increased the proposed budget by $140,000. The proposed budget started at $5.67 million, just above the default amount. The additions included $40,000, backed by the Select Board, to reach the total requested to fund the Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance for the coming year.

The additional $100,000 was put forth by resident Karl Pruter to increase the police department staffing line for wage adjustments.

Rindge voters were largely in favor of continuing support for the town’s capital reserve and expendable trust funds, which are used to save funds from year-to-year for large expenses, as part of the town’s long-term planning.

Voters approved, 1,004-526, to put $185,000 in the highway department capital reserve, 1,082-446 to put $125,000 in the fire department equipment fund, 1,307-230 for $40,000 for the ambulance service expendable trust, 1,060-465 for $35,000 for the building maintenance reserve, 1,095-438 for the recreation facilities fund, 996-535 for $25,000 for the Meetinghouse maintenance fund, and 1,171-361 for $20,000 for the Ingalls Memorial Library expendable trust.

Residents were also in favor of a petition article to rescind a past article approved by town vote in 2021 creating a ninth full-time police officer position. The article specifies that the authority to determine the number of full-time police officers be decided by the Select Board, and was approved in a 914-619 vote.

Voters also approved a petition article requiring the town to send the results of the vote to the governor and state General Court, expressing the opinion that the legislature protect taxpayers by ensuring adequate state revenues for essential services and avoiding putting the costs on towns. Voters approved the measure 1,041-486.

Hamilton retains Select Board seat; Planning Board Chair ousted

Bob Hamilton retained his position on the Rindge Select Board after Tuesday’s elections, holding off challenger Bob Martin for the seat.

“I was selectman with him from 2016 to 2019, and I saw how good at the job he was then, and still have a huge amount of confidence that he’ll continue to do a good job,” said resident Jim Qualey, while campaigning for Hamilton outside the polls on Tuesday.

Hamilton received 832 votes to Martin’s 661.

In the closest race of the day, current Planning Board Chair Roberta Oeser was defeated in a four-way race for two seats on the board.

The winning votes went to current vice-chair Joel Aho, who received the most votes with 684. Jennifer Helsel won the second seat with 683 votes.

Oeser finished with 671 votes and Mark Hower trailed with 508.

On the Zoning Board, incumbents Marcia Breckenridge and Ross Thermos will be returning to their seats, elected to the two open spots in a three-way race. Breckenridge received 1,043 votes, and Thermos 689, defeating Hower, who also ran for the Zoning Board, with 586 votes.

Hower also ran uncontested for a seat as trustee of the trust funds and received 1,082 votes.

The remainder of the ballot was uncontested. Oeser and Tina Sbrega were elected to two seats on the Budget Advisory Committee with 843 and 1,000 votes, respectively. Victoria Stenersen was elected as cemetery trustee with 1,256 votes. Robert Terk was elected as library trustee with 1,175 votes. Kirk Stenersen was re-elected as moderator with 1,258 votes. Andrea Lavache and Shana Eichner were both re-elected to their roles as tax collector and town clerk, with 1,222 and 1,250 votes, respectively. John McCracken received 1,169 votes for supervisor of the checklist. Helene Rogers received 1,206 votes for treasurer.