Tiverton Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Financial Town Referendum

Although the votes are still unofficial, Tiverton's financial town meeting (FTM) appears to be a thing of the past after Tuesday's special election. The proposed financial town referendum (FTR) was overwhelmingly approved as votes came in Tuesday night.

Voters approved the FTR by 1,498 votes.

The proposal switches the FTM platform to an FTR, which would leave residents as the budget-voting body, while allowing voters more opportunity to cast their vote to decide the budget and taxes. Voters would have access to absentee ballots, as well. Electors can petition budget proposals and resolutions no later than 28 days before the referendum and present at least 50 signatures.

The FTR came from the Financial Town Meeting Changes Advisory Committee earlier this year. Changing Tiverton's budget-voting structure has been a highly-debated subject going back several years.