Northbridge tax hike fails;

Northbridge tax hike fails; cuts to followBy Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
NORTHBRIDGE — In a reversal at the ballot, voters rejected a $3.2 million Proposition 2½ override for the schools and the Fire Department, forcing the School Committee to make $800,000 in cuts and the Fire Department to continue to run one ambulance per shift.

Earlier this month, voters at town meeting had approved the override.

The override failed by a vote of 2,231 to 1,531. A total of 3,776 of the town's 10,349 registered voters — or 36.5 percent — participated in the annual election.

After the results announcement, town officials said they will have to work within the budget they have and honor the will of the voters.