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SPENCER – Spencer voters rejected an election ballot question to participate in the Community Preservation Act (CPA) program, with 2,769 yes votes to 3,153 in opposition.
The adoption would have enabled the town to add a property tax surcharge of 1% beginning in fiscal year 2026. The program would run five years, at which point, the community could vote to opt out.
Town Meeting in May narrowly approved the measure and it was put on the ballot for a community-wide vote.
Under the program, people who qualify for low-income housing and seniors with low or moderate income could be exempt from the CPA surcharge.
During Town Meeting, residents who spoke in opposition expressed cynicism about getting exemptions and dubbed the CPA “just another tax.”
Proponents of the program cited the ability to fund projects to preserve open space and historic sites, create affordable housing and develop outdoor recreational facilities.
Across the state, 200 out of 351 cities and towns have adopted the CPA program. Worcester, Shrewsbury, Sturbridge and Grafton are among those communities.
On the other ballot questions, Spencer voters agreed with the outcomes four out of five times.
Question 1 to authorize the state auditor to audit the legislature general was approved by 71.5% (2,256,332) voters overall, with Spencer totaling 4,079 “yes” votes to 1,897 “no” votes.
Question 2 eliminated MCAS tests as a high school graduation requirement, receiving support statewide from 59% (1,943,559) of voters. Spencer’s tally agreed; 3,957 residents approved the measure with 2,265 against it.
Question 3 saw nearly 54% of voters (1,710,829) give approval for transportation network drivers to unionize. Locally, the sentiment was different with 2,786 residents saying yes and 3,214 voting no.
Question 4 to legalize psychedelic substances failed with 57% (1,850,130) in opposition. Spencer also voted no with a count of 3,655 to 2,448 yes votes.
Question 5 to increase minimum wage of tipped employees failed by 64.3% (2,096,042). Locally, the tally was 1,749 yes votes and 4,382 no votes.
Other election results
In contested races, Elizabeth Warren won a third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican challenger John Deaton. The results were reversed in Spencer with Deaton receiving support from 3,615 residents to Warren’s 2,578 total.
Republican Senator Peter Durant will serve his first full, two-year term, receiving the support of 4,106 voters. Challenger Sheila Dibb got 1,981. Durant was previously elected when Sen. Anne Gobi left to serve as director of rural affairs in the Healey-Driscoll administration.
For Governor’s Councillor, incumbent Paul M. DePalo defeated challenger Andrew Couture. Locally, however, it was a very tight race with Spencer voters choosing Couture over DePalo, 2,971 to 2,924.
Incumbent Richard E. Neal was re-elected representative in Congress with Spencer voters agreeing, choosing him with 3,244 votes with 2,475 going to independent Nadia Donya Milleron.
Elected representative in general court, 6th district was John J. Marsi Jr. over Jeanne Renaud Costello. The vote totals in Spencer were 829 to 636.
In the U.S. Presidential race, Spencer was in synch with the rest of the nation, choosing the Donald Trump/J.D. Vance ticket over the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz one, 3,413 to 2,755.
