Newtown voters say no to more money for school security

Newtown, Conn., residents voted down a budget proposal that would have funded more security in schools.

Voters said no to the $72 million school budget by a margin of 482 votes, The Associated Press reported. They also rejected a $39 million general town government budget plan that would have allowed for the same boosted security presence, AP said.

An estimated 4,500 voters cast ballots on the plan.

Only $1 million in each of the budgets would have gone toward extra security officers; specially, armed police and unarmed security guards, AP reported.

At least one local government official was confused by the vote. First Selectwoman Patricia Llodra said in the AP report that the budget plans stemmed from the December school shootings, when residents seemed to want more security in the town’s seven schools. With the thumbs down, however, she said she’s not sure now what the voters are saying, AP reported.