Last modified: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 12:25 AM EDT Seekonk hits polls en masse to reject override proposals BY JOE SIEGEL/FOR SUN CHRONICLE STAFF SEEKONK -- Voters came out in force Monday to overwhelmingly reject a $3.3 million override of Proposition 2 1 / sub 2. More than 5,500 people, or 63 per cent of the town's registered voters, cast ballots in what town officials said was the highest turnout for a town election in memory. Sixty-two percent, or 3,379 voters, voted `` no'' to allowing the town to increase property taxes to prop up the town and school operating costs, while 65 percent, or 3,548 voters, rejected a proposal to raise property taxes in order to appropriate $750,000 for the town's newly created Munici pal Capital Stabilization Fund, designed to fund capital expendi tures. In the last several weeks, hundreds of signs had sprouted up throughout town urging a `` yes'' or `` no'' vote to the override. `` Yes for Seekonk,'' a pro-override group, even launched a website to garner support. Town officials, including members from the finance committee, school committee, and selectmen, had said an override of Proposition 2 1 / sub 2 was necessary in order to maintain public services, including school operations. `` I think it's well overdue'' , said Gilbert Ferreira, a Seekonk firefight er. Ferreira noted that if the override were to pass, the town would be able to hire five new firefighters and police officers. However, others believed town officials needed to show fiscal responsibility to its citizens. Resident Ron Bennett said the town should `` live within our means.'' `` They should have to spend what they have,'' Bennett added. Opponents of the override expressed relief at the outcome. `` I think everybody has to think about the whole town,'' said Victoria Kinniburgh, chairman of `` Just Say No to 2 1 / sub 2 Woes.'' Kinniburgh said the tax increase would have hurt people living on fixed incomes. Selectman chairman Michael Brady was not surprised by the large percentage of `` no'' votes, and vowed to never promote an override again. `` We didn't want to do it this time,'' said Brady, a self-described fiscal conservative speaking on behalf of the board of selectmen. Brady said he had supported the residents' right to choose what they believed was best for the town. The budget approved by the voters at May's town meeting is a levy limit budget, Brady noted, which meant that reductions in public services will need to be made. That could mean the loss of police officers and firefighters, which Brady said could endanger public safety. The school district may close North Elementary School and shuffle the students from that school into the Aitken and Martin schools. The school administration building may also be shut down, with some personnel relocated to the Hurley Middle School. The last time an override was approved was in 2000, when voters allowed an exemption to be made regarding the bond issues relating to construction at the Martin School. Brady said he would contact state representatives in an effort to acquire more local aid funding. The school committee will meet tonight at the high school media center to introduce a redistricting plan. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.