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REHOBOTH -- The town's voters, following in the footsteps of voters in Seekonk, Norton and Wrentham, rejected a $500,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override Monday with 1,623 `` no'' votes, 723 `` yes'' votes -- a move that may mean the end of elementary school art programs and middle school interscholastic sports.

Taxes would have raised around $113 for a house valued at $350,000 if the measure had passed. A special town meeting will be held in September to decide how to balance the tax levy limit. The town is over its limit by $238,000.

Also, the $10.5-million school operating budget residents voted for will have the be cut since the override failed.

Paula Money, vice chairwoman of the school committee, said a recent discovery of an extra $200,000 may help restore some programs. She said the appropriation of those funds will be decided at the special town meeting.

`` With the temper of voters in Norton and Seekonk, I'm not surprised it was voted down,'' said School Committee Chairman Howard Horsman. Horsman said the failure of the override will effect the schools for many years.

`` If the state school aid formula stays the same and Dighton can fully fund their K-8, where will Rehoboth find the money to fund its schools?'' Horsman asked.

Cliff Smith of Broad Street was one 1,000-plus to vote against the override.

`` I think they should spend their money more wisely,'' Smith said. `` The superintendent has lots of money coming in from special education students from Berkley and Seekonk as part of the South Coast Collaborative. Where's all that money going?''

A female voter, who requested anonymity, also voted against the override but for different reasons.

She said she disagrees with the state aid education formula which factors property values. Because property values in town are high, the schools get less in state aid.

`` The real estate market is inflated,'' she said. `` We do have big-ticket houses but that creates an imbalance.''

Richard Gillerman, a member of Concerned Parents of Rehoboth, said group members will need to do more to get parents with children in schools to the polls. The group formed in June and has more than 70 members.

`` The number of `yes' votes is disproportionate to the number of parents with children in the schools,'' Gillerman said. `` We have a lot of work to do to inform them.''