North Kingstown voters reject proposed new school, public safety complex bond

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — North Kingstown voters rejected a bond on the ballot Tuesday that would’ve been used toward a new school and public safety complex.

“We wanted neither. There wasn’t a good enough argument that we heard,” a couple told ABC 6 News.

The referendum on the ballot in the special election asked voters if they were in favor of the construction of a new middle school and public safety complex, with a bond costing an estimated $222 million.

Most residents that spoke with ABC 6 said they voted against the bond.

“I didn’t like the way they had meshed the two together,” one resident said. “You had to vote for the school and the safety complex, or neither. And it seemed there was something wrong with that.”

Other residents said they were in favor of one or the other, but not necessarily both projects.

More than 4,500 voters who took to the polls voted to deny the bond, with nearly 62% of the vote saying no.

North Kingstown was among the highest voter turnout in the state. Voters expressed their concerns over taxes and higher interest rates as some of the main reasons they didn’t want the bond to pass.

“I could never afford to raise a building down or to buy a new one, yet in government, they have no problem with that, and we’re paying for it,” one resident said.

North Kingstown residents also voted against the construction of a new $25 million indoor recreation center and emergency shelter.